Dr. Bonnie M. King (88) of Red Bluff, California

Dr. Bonnie M. King, Ed.D, died Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Red Bluff, California at the age of 88 from the complications of a stroke.

A memorial service for Bonnie will be held at the Presbyterian Church Chapel in Red Bluff, California on Saturday, April 22 at 1:00 PM. Burial will be held on Saturday, April 1 at 11:00 a.m. in the Brockville Cemetery near Newton, Illinois where Bonnie’s husband, his two brothers and their wives are also buried. Donations may be made in Bonnie’s name to the Red Bluff Elementary District General Scholarship Fund, 1755 Airport Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080.

Bonnie was born the second of four children on Jan. 9, 1929 in Hastings, Nebraska to Chester S. and Maude Rhodes McKenzie. Bonnie grew up during the Depression as an athletic tomboy who matured into a very attractive professional model. She completed junior college at Hastings College before moving to Kearny, Nebraska to assist her mother in running her motel. It was there that she met and later married Daniel W. King, a pilot in the US Army Air Corps, on July 23, 1948. Their only child, Dr. Daniel M. King of Red Bluff was born in 1949. The Kings were stationed in various parts of the country as well as England before the last assignment in Topeka, KS where Bonnie worked as an in-patient teacher for young people undergoing psychotherapy at the famed Meninger Foundation. This inspired Bonnie to obtain her bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree in English education while her son pursued his college and medical degree. Later she earned her doctorate in educational curriculum development. Dr. King taught special education students in Goddard, Wichita, and Newton, KS before moving to Red Bluff in 1985. Bonnie taught English classes at Shasta College for several years before becoming a resource specialist teacher in the Red Bluff Elementary District until her retirement in 2001. She returned to Wichita, KS to spend the remainder of her life with her husband in Wichita until his death on Thanksgiving 2016. Bonnie enjoyed spending her time writing, reading, painting, and traveling.

Bonnie was pre-deceased by her husband Lt. Col. Daniel W. King and her younger brother Don McKenzie.

She is survived by her son Dr. Dan King (Sherry) of Red Bluff and grandsons Ted, Andrew, and Cameron (Amanda) King, great granddaughter Margaux King, sister Dorothy Goodwin of Florida, brother Gordon (Wanda) McKenzie of Paradise, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bonnie will be remembered as a very bright, witty lady, a dedicated teacher advocate for her students, a devout Christian, loving mother & grandmother, and a devoted wife to her husband & hero.