Miss Leona Bellew attended Peniel College in Texas in the late nineteen teens. In the Peniel Catalogue of 1918-19, she is listed as enrolled in the "Conservatory of Music" and in the "Department of Theology," and is shown in the 1919-20 issue as a graduate of the Teachers Course in Music."
She left the college before taking a degree, however, and went to Africa as a missionary. In Africa, Leona, though possessing a rather robust physique, so on experienced health difficulties and physical ailments as a result of living in the primitive conditions. So, she found it necessary to return home after a limited term on "the field." She enrolled at her former school, which by that time had relocated from Peniel, Texas to Bethany, Oklahoma where it took the modified name, Bethany-Peniel College.
Near that identical time, on July 8, 1931, she married her elderly B-PC professor Dr. C. A. ("Uncle Charlie") McConnell (age 71, she age 33). Leona was filled with elation at becoming "Mrs. Uncle Charlie." Younger students at B-PC enjoyed observing their behavior, seeing the couple as comporting themselves rather like teenagers. Dr. A. K. Bracken, President of B-PC at the time, overheard Leona say at the post-wedding reception in Bethany, "I'm just going to lean on him, and lean on him, and lean on him."
In 1933, Leona graduated at B-PC, now SNU, and enrolled in the University of Oklahoma for graduate studies. After two years there, she was awarded the M. A. degree in history, having completed a thesis on the "History of the Town and College in Bethany." In short order, she joined her husband on the staff of the College, serving many years thereafter mostly as a key figure in the Office of the Registrar. Most of the time her title was that of "Recorder." In some years, she taught part-time in the English Department. "Uncle Charlie" retired in 1939 at the age of 79!
She left the college before taking a degree, however, and went to Africa as a missionary. In Africa, Leona, though possessing a rather robust physique, so on experienced health difficulties and physical ailments as a result of living in the primitive conditions. So, she found it necessary to return home after a limited term on "the field." She enrolled at her former school, which by that time had relocated from Peniel, Texas to Bethany, Oklahoma where it took the modified name, Bethany-Peniel College.
Near that identical time, on July 8, 1931, she married her elderly B-PC professor Dr. C. A. ("Uncle Charlie") McConnell (age 71, she age 33). Leona was filled with elation at becoming "Mrs. Uncle Charlie." Younger students at B-PC enjoyed observing their behavior, seeing the couple as comporting themselves rather like teenagers. Dr. A. K. Bracken, President of B-PC at the time, overheard Leona say at the post-wedding reception in Bethany, "I'm just going to lean on him, and lean on him, and lean on him."
In 1933, Leona graduated at B-PC, now SNU, and enrolled in the University of Oklahoma for graduate studies. After two years there, she was awarded the M. A. degree in history, having completed a thesis on the "History of the Town and College in Bethany." In short order, she joined her husband on the staff of the College, serving many years thereafter mostly as a key figure in the Office of the Registrar. Most of the time her title was that of "Recorder." In some years, she taught part-time in the English Department. "Uncle Charlie" retired in 1939 at the age of 79!
Miss Leona Bellew attended Peniel College in Texas in the late nineteen teens. In the Peniel Catalogue of 1918-19, she is listed as enrolled in the "Conservatory of Music" and in the "Department of Theology," and is shown in the 1919-20 issue as a graduate of the Teachers Course in Music."
She left the college before taking a degree, however, and went to Africa as a missionary. In Africa, Leona, though possessing a rather robust physique, so on experienced health difficulties and physical ailments as a result of living in the primitive conditions. So, she found it necessary to return home after a limited term on "the field." She enrolled at her former school, which by that time had relocated from Peniel, Texas to Bethany, Oklahoma where it took the modified name, Bethany-Peniel College.
Near that identical time, on July 8, 1931, she married her elderly B-PC professor Dr. C. A. ("Uncle Charlie") McConnell (age 71, she age 33). Leona was filled with elation at becoming "Mrs. Uncle Charlie." Younger students at B-PC enjoyed observing their behavior, seeing the couple as comporting themselves rather like teenagers. Dr. A. K. Bracken, President of B-PC at the time, overheard Leona say at the post-wedding reception in Bethany, "I'm just going to lean on him, and lean on him, and lean on him."
In 1933, Leona graduated at B-PC, now SNU, and enrolled in the University of Oklahoma for graduate studies. After two years there, she was awarded the M. A. degree in history, having completed a thesis on the "History of the Town and College in Bethany." In short order, she joined her husband on the staff of the College, serving many years thereafter mostly as a key figure in the Office of the Registrar. Most of the time her title was that of "Recorder." In some years, she taught part-time in the English Department. "Uncle Charlie" retired in 1939 at the age of 79!
She left the college before taking a degree, however, and went to Africa as a missionary. In Africa, Leona, though possessing a rather robust physique, so on experienced health difficulties and physical ailments as a result of living in the primitive conditions. So, she found it necessary to return home after a limited term on "the field." She enrolled at her former school, which by that time had relocated from Peniel, Texas to Bethany, Oklahoma where it took the modified name, Bethany-Peniel College.
Near that identical time, on July 8, 1931, she married her elderly B-PC professor Dr. C. A. ("Uncle Charlie") McConnell (age 71, she age 33). Leona was filled with elation at becoming "Mrs. Uncle Charlie." Younger students at B-PC enjoyed observing their behavior, seeing the couple as comporting themselves rather like teenagers. Dr. A. K. Bracken, President of B-PC at the time, overheard Leona say at the post-wedding reception in Bethany, "I'm just going to lean on him, and lean on him, and lean on him."
In 1933, Leona graduated at B-PC, now SNU, and enrolled in the University of Oklahoma for graduate studies. After two years there, she was awarded the M. A. degree in history, having completed a thesis on the "History of the Town and College in Bethany." In short order, she joined her husband on the staff of the College, serving many years thereafter mostly as a key figure in the Office of the Registrar. Most of the time her title was that of "Recorder." In some years, she taught part-time in the English Department. "Uncle Charlie" retired in 1939 at the age of 79!
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