Birthday celebration and commemoration held for Bonnie Garrett's 100th birthday

SUBMITTED BY PAT CAMPBELL

Bonnie Garrett celebrated her 100th birthday at the Bungalows at the Meadows surrounded by family and friends. About 75 people attended, almost 200 birthday cards were received, and a fun time was had by all. Bonnie was born at her parents’ farmhouse near Corning, Arkansas, on January 2, 1925. She married during World War II and worked at a U.S. Naval Base in southern California while her husband, Carl, was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Guam. After the war ended, Bonnie and her husband settled in the St. Louis area where they raised their three children. 

Bonnie worked at a St. Louis County Schnuck’s grocery store for 21 years. She was recognized as the Checker of the Year in 1981 by Schnucks and received an all-expense paid trip to London. After retiring in 1987, she and her husband started a travel company focused on senior travel and traveled to 34 different countries over the next 16 years. Following the death of her husband, Bonnie bought a condo in Lakewood Estates and moved to Branson in 2003 to be near her daughter, Pat Campbell.  For the next 20 years Bonnie volunteered her time to help in the annual Branson’s Veterans Week. She also volunteered her time at the Branson Chamber of Commerce for many years.

During the birthday celebration, Bob Smither president of the Branson Veterans Task Force presented a plaque that read: “In honor of Bonnie Garrett's 100th birthday, we are pleased to commemorate her legacy of dedication, commitment, kindness and service to the veteran community for well over 20 years. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the Day Room at Veterans Village, hosted annually during Branson's Veterans Homecoming week, is hereby named The Bonnie Garrett Day Room. This special designation serves as a tribute to Bonnie's unwavering support and the positive impact she has had on all those who have had the privilege of knowing her. Thank you, Bonnie Garrett, for your exemplary contributions and the inspiration you continue to provide. Presented by the Branson Veterans Task Force.”