Obituary

Funeral services for Delpha Marie Bonds, 93, will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2009, at First Baptist Church, Plainview, Texas, with Dr. Travis Hart officiating. Mrs. Bonds died Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at Prairie House Living Center. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Jim Odom, Jerry Schinkus, Mike Carthel, Earl Tenery, Jeff Terrell and Tom Johnson. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the funeral home. Mrs. Bonds was born March 7, 1916, to Minkie and O.S. Rogers in Quanah, Texas. She was the youngest of six children. She married Carl A. Bonds on April 5, 1936. They were married more than 60 years. Mrs. Bonds is survived by two children, Carl G. Bonds and his wife, Rita, of Richardson, Texas, and Norma Spaulding and her husband, Bob, of Plainview, Texas; one brother, Dale Rogers of Canyon, Texas; three grandchildren, Janis Harper of Plano, Texas, Steve Bonds of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Scott Bonds of Waco, Texas; five great-grandchildren, Luke, Will and Paige Harper of Plano, Texas; Zachary and Zane Bonds of Corpus Christi, Texas; and her wonderful caregiver and friend, Helen Henckel. Mrs. Bonds was preceded in death by her husband, Carl A. Bonds; one grandson, Wayne Spaulding; two sisters, Dovie Maginnis and Ruby Radney; and two brothers, Luther Rogers and Lynn Rogers. Mrs. Bonds loved playing the piano and played for the Millennium Singers for more than 25 years. She played for nursing homes in Plainview, Lockney, Olton, Lubbock and Floydada. Mrs. Bonds played piano weekly for the prison ministry in Plainview. She volunteered as a "Pink Lady" at the Plainview hospital for many years. She was awarded Pioneer Woman of the Year at the Pioneer Round-Up, the Paul Harris Award for "Service Above Self" at the Rotary Club, was RSVP Volunteer of the Year, and was the recipient of The President's Volunteer Service Award from President Bush. Many lives were touched through her piano ministry and her dedicated service to others. When Delpha was 5 years old the family moved to Hale Center. Her brother, Dale, was two years older and she learned to read his first grade reader. Therefore, she started to school in the second grade. All of her school years were spent in Hale Center except one year when she and her brother went to Mayfield, a rural school west of Hale Center. Delpha and her brother went to school in a two-wheel cart pulled by a little white donkey named Jude. Delpha graduated from Hale Center High School with Dale in 1932 when she was 16 years of age. She started playing the piano at a very young age. Mrs. Nils Akeson of Hale Center was her teacher. Delpha's mom paid for lessons with butter, eggs and garden vegetables. Lessons were $5 a month and she had two lessons a week. When her children started high school in Plainview, Delpha took piano at Wayland from Guy Woods. Delpha firmly believed talents not used are lost. She put into practice her beliefs by never refusing to play the piano when asked to play. Delpha played regularly at First Baptist Church Plainview on Sunday mornings for the Adult III Sunday School Class and at Wednesday night prayer meetings. During the late 1940s, Delpha's music ability became the means of a small income from giving piano lessons and for playing the piano for a tap dance teacher. She recalled being paid $10, which was a lot of money back then. Quilt making is said to be America's oldest art form. Making a quilt requires sewing skills, practice and some sort of mathematical mind to put together some of the more complicated patterns. Delpha made 18 or more quilts. Her favorite patterns were Dutch Doll, Log Cabin, Double Wedding Ring and Flower Garden. At age 17, while visiting her older sister in Quanah, she learned to quilt. Her first piece was pink and green domestic and white sugar sacks. Next, she painted a quilt top with crayons from patterns out of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Her definition of contentment was feeling good about yourself and having peace of mind. Delpha's mother gave her good advice. She taught her children to be content by changing the things they could but to accept the things they could not change. Delpha was a happy and optimistic person and loved people. She was always thankful for all of her blessings. Her children and grandchildren adored her and are grateful for the exemplary life that she lived and for the many sacrifices she made for them. We know she is now in heaven, playing the piano and smiling once more. Memorial contributions may be made to Hale County Senior Citizens Center. Online guest book and condolences can be made at www.MyPlainview.com