Bonnie Ludwig

Bonnie Mae Ludwig, 81, of Jackson, passed away Friday, June 8, 2007, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home.

She was born Aug. 18, 1925, to Florian James and Lula Jane Smith Armstrong, at the Armstrong-Ramsey House on Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. She and Vernon Ludwig were married Oct. 20, 1945, at the Methodist Church in Clinton, Okla.

Ludwig graduated from the former Campster Grade School and enjoyed membership in the Campster 4-H Club. She graduated from College High School and the Southeast Missouri State Teacher's College, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and the Honorary Education Society. She later earned a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

After their marriage, the couple resided in Clinton, on Route 66. Ludwig was a checker at the Bestway Grocery Store. At the end of World War II, they moved to the Ludwig family farm, a Missouri Century Farm, near Jackson. She taught at the following local schools: Schoenebeck, Horrell, Sheppard and Pocahontas, for a total of 28 years.

Ludwig was the last surviving charter member of the Jackson R-2 Retired Elementary Teachers established in 1980 and a former leader of the Brookside 4-H Club. Her hobbies were writing plays and short articles.

The Ludwigs were members of St. John's United Church of Christ near Fruitland, where Bonnie was baptized July 25, 1986. She was a former youth fellowship leader and faithful Sunday school member.

Survivors include her loving husband of 61 years, Vernon of Jackson; two daughters, Cherry (Ed) Hinderberger of Columbia, Mo., Donna (Danny) Criddle of Jackson; a brother, Carl Armstrong of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Olive M. Keller of Cape Girardeau and Eileen Gannon of Stillwater, N.Y.

Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kimberly (Matthew) Lewis, Travis (Bonnie) Criddle, Jamie (Shauna) Criddle, Beth (Kyle) Essner, Charles (Gina) Henry, Jon Hinderberger; 12 great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Megan, Erin, Jeremy, Joshua, and Brianna Lewis, Jacob and Madeline Criddle, Darby Henry, Callie Essner, Austin and Addison Criddle.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Russell Armstrong.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, and after 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's United Church of Christ in Fruitland.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, at the church, with the Rev. David E. Schaffner officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial offerings to St. John's United Church of Christ Building Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.