Wynelle Hodges Bone

Roger Bone said God brought them together. That was how he explained a young man from a farm in Indiana meeting and marrying a young woman from a small town in middle Georgia and forming a loving union that lasted over 67 years. Wynelle “Winnie” Hodges Bone was born in Oconee in Washington County, Georgia, on September 15, 1924. She was the youngest of eight children, six surviving to adulthood. Mrs. Bone was the daughter of Christopher Arthur Hodges and Lillie “Lillian” Clyde Hodges.

After graduating from Tennille High School in 1941, Mrs. Bone went to Macon, Georgia, to work as a long distance operator for the telephone company. While in Macon during World War II, she agreed to work a different shift to help a coworker, and during that shift agreed to a blind date with Roger Fredrick Bone, an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at Columbus, Georgia, who was preparing to serve in the European Theater of World War II. They married in Macon, Georgia, nearly a year later and honeymooned in Niagara Falls. During the War Mrs. Bone lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, and worked as a bank teller.

After the War, she and Mr. Bone, who had taken a position with Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company (later known as Ball Corporation), lived in Muncie, Indiana; Hillsborough, Illinois; and Millville, New Jersey.

In 1950 Mr. and Mrs. Bone made their home in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, when Mr. Bone took the position as production supervisor, and later manager, for the Ball Brothers glass plant in Okmulgee.

A devoted wife and loving mother, Mrs. Bone’s contributions to her community included many years of faithful service at First Presbyterian Church of Okmulgee, her children’s schools, the Okmulgee Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the local Red Cross, the election board, and Meals on Wheels. She was a member of a local bridge group as a young adult, and later joined Art and Literature and Garden clubs in Okmulgee. After Mr. Bone’s retirement in 1985, Mr. and Mrs. Bone made trips to Europe with friends, visited their children and grandchildren in Georgia and Texas, and often traveled out of town for lunch.

She attended to Mr. Bone’s needs as he grew increasingly frail during the last ten years of his life, and never complained.

After Mr. Bone’s death in 2011, Mrs. Bone enjoyed frequent visits from her family and road trips to Indiana, Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina. In 2018 she relocated to Decatur, Georgia, and was a charter member of The Mansions at Decatur, a newly built senior living facility. At The Mansions she cared for her faithful cat, Miss Ginger, and enjoyed new friends and celebrating her birthdays with ice cream parties.

Mrs. Bone was unable to travel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but she engaged in many activities at The Mansions and kept a positive outlook despite missing the house she and Mr. Bone built in 1960, friends, and life in Okmulgee, her home of 68 years.

Mrs. Bone passed away peacefully at her home after recent hospitalizations and time with her family. She was 97 years young.

Mrs. Bone is survived by Mrs. Connie Wynelle Bone Perry (Gregory) of Clarkston, Georgia; Mrs. Stefanie Michelle Bone Medack (James) of Giddings, Texas; three grandchildren, Mr. Roger Adam Perry (Ella) of Decatur, Georgia; Ms. Natalie Bone Perry of Clarkston, Georgia; and Mrs. Alexandra Wynelle Medack (Ryan) of Washington, D.C.; and 2 great granddaughters of Decatur, Georgia.

A Committal Service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Antioch Christian Church Cemetery in Oconee, Georgia, led by her neighbor, The Reverend Gail R. Perkins, and Pastor Tom Howard of Antioch Christian Church. A Memory Service will be held at The Mansions at Decatur on Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00 pm. A Service to Celebrate Mrs. Bone’s life will be scheduled at First Presbyterian Church of Okmulgee at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home of Decatur.

Family and friends will miss Mrs. Bone’s picture-perfect appearance, sweet smile, clever wit and love for the Lord that directed her daily living.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 401 South Seminole, Okmulgee, OK 74447, or the charity of one’s choice.