Bonnie Sue Ledbetter Walker, 77, died Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, following an extended illness.  She was born on February 25, 1934, in Kings Mountain, NC to the late Gaither Ledbetter and Reba Condry Ledbetter. Bonnie was raised in the heart of textile country with her brother, the late Bob Everette Ledbetter. She learned early on the value of hard work and the gift of storytelling.

One night in 1951 at the Cleveland County Fair, Bonnie met Jim Walker on a blind date.  She cherished this prize for 60 years.

As a young bride, Bonnie lived with Jim’s parents in Shelby, working in the textile industry while he was in the Air Force.  In her early years of marriage she generously cared for her nieces and nephews and when son Jimmy was born in 1959, Bonnie blossomed in her role as a loving and happy mother.

Bonnie, Jim and Jimmy moved to the shores of Island Point in Sherrills Ford in the late 1970’s and began living the lake life, enjoying the sunrise and picnicking on the water.

Employed by Midway Marina during the booming growth of Lake Norman, she greeted hundreds each day with her warm and gracious smile. Bonnie Walker loved her life, her family and friends. She valued friendship, humor, and honesty. 

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Jim Walker, and son Jimmy; niece, Sandi Ledbetter Hoster; sister-in-law, Mildred E. Walker Strawsburg and her daughters, Gail, Janice, Joyce and son, Tommy; sister-in-law, Betty Walker Gibbs and daughters, Nancy and Linda, and son Ricky.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Shelby, N.C. Funeral Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel.  Internment will follow at Sunset Cemetery, Shelby.

 The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Eastside Baptist Church, 1165 Wyke Rd, Shelby, North Carolina 28150.