Her story began, as many do, with humble beginnings. Bonnie Louise Pelts was born in Britton, Oklahoma on April 18, 1932. She was the third of eight children born to Susan Zora Springs Pelts and William Pelts. Though not the oldest, she was the honorary guardian of the bunch and she spent much of her childhood raising her siblings.
Daughter, sister, caretaker.
At fifteen she fell hopelessly in love with L Wayne Hinkle. They were married on October 2, 1947 and together they had 6 children. Michael (Sonya) Hinkle, David Hinkle, Pam Myers, Susan Chenoweth, Sara (Steve) Iverson, and Marc (Tina) Hinkle.
Wife and mother.
They were happily married for 35 years until he passed away in December of 1982. Immediately devastated, and bent almost to her breaking point, she survived the loss and managed to adjust to living life alone.
Widow.
She filled her days with volunteering, serving, cooking, walking, entertaining, and reading true crime novels.
With an affinity for old movies, one of her favorite quotes was: “Dear Scarlett! You aren’t helpless. Anyone as selfish and determined as you are is never helpless. God help the Yankees if they should get you.” -Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind. And she lived true to it.
She was determined to live every day to the fullest and she soon went from surviving to thriving and living a full life surrounded by her kids and their kids, and their kids.
Grandmother and great grandmother (GG).
Fourteen years after losing her first husband, she said yes and married Ken Binderim on July 17, 1996 and they were the hottest couple the AARP had ever seen… until he passed away in June of 2015.
She weathered many storms and experienced many losses. In addition to her husbands, she also endured the death of her sister Ruth, brothers Billy and Buddy, and one grandson, Nicholas Hinkle.
Throughout her life she fulfilled various roles and played many parts but her passion always lay in her family and her faith.
The words she chose to live by were: “I will this day live a sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of impurity, anxiety, and discouragement. I will cultivate cheerfulness, happiness, charity, and love. I will make every effort to improve myself physically, mentally and spiritually every day.”
This chapter of her story concluded May 22, 2022 when she passed away in her home at the glorious age of 90 years old but her story lives on through all who knew her, especially her children, her numerous grandkids, and great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Legacy Apartments in Shawnee on June 4th from 2-4.
