Bonnie Sue (Welch) Bixler

Bonnie Sue Bixler was born on September 14, 1931 in Seminole, OK to David Hamilton Welch and Ora (Paden) Welch.

She attended high school at Chelsea, Oklahoma then moved in her senior year graduating from Watonga High School in 1949.

She attended classes at Southwestern State College in Weatherford Oklahoma where she received a Cosmetology Certification. In her working career she practiced hairdressing and was married on April 16, 1954 in Norman, Oklahoma. After marrying she chose motherhood and became a stay at home mom and homemaker living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1969 she moved to Savannah, Tennessee where she resided for the rest of her life.

Bonnie was active in the community and enjoyed fine arts, she taught beginners painting classes, specifically oil painting and was a charter member during the forming of the Savannah Art Guild. She also volunteered to teach illiterate adults to read, continuing to change lives at a personal level. In her spare time she loved knitting, sewing and continued to enjoy her individual art paintings, but most importantly spending time with her family and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. Bixler; her twin sister Betty Lue, a brother, Eugene Hamilton Welch; a half-brother, Melvern Welch and a half-sister, Helen PettyJohn. She is survived by her son COL, US Army (Ret.) Douglas H. Bixler and daughter-in-law Melissa of Dawson, AL; her daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne and Tim Willoughby of Savannah, TN; eight grandchildren, Monica and husband Donnie Mathews; Josh Bixler and wife Brandi, Chris Bixler and wife Traci, Christal and husband Pastor A. J. Fowler, Ryan Willoughby and wife Samantha, Linsee Willoughby Murphy, Derrick McCurdy and Katie McCurdy.

Twenty two great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Bonnie passed from this life at 9:09 am on January 7, 2026 in her home, Savannah TN, she was 94 years old.

Services celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Love & Truth Church of Savannah, located at 2425 Pickwick Street, Savannah.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows IOOF Cemetery, 80646 North 2590 Road, Watonga 73772.

Our family at Associated are very honored and grateful to have been chosen to serve the Bixler family. 
 

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