Norma Lee McCluskey Meredith Bonta

Published 12:49 pm Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Norma Lee McCluskey Meredith Bonta, 87, passed away peacefully at 4:30 p.m. May 28, 2013, at the Rosewood Health Center in Bowling Green.

She was born June 7, 1923, to Melvina Francis Allen Boles and James McCluskey in Glasgow. She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, William B. Meredith; her brother, Terrance Cleon McCluskey; a half-sister, Constance Young Misenheimer; and a half-brother, Robert Perry Young.

Norma McCluskey is a 1943 graduate of Bowling Green High School. Following graduation she was employed at the Kennard Plant of Bowling Green, General Electric of Owensboro, C.D.S. Drug Stores, Union Underwear as a seamstress, Sears Roebuck and Holley Carburetor, all of Bowling Green.

On July 3, 1971, after the marriage of two childhood sweethearts, Norma McCluskey Meredith Bonta became Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd H. Bonta in Bridgeport, Conn., each having lost their spouses in death. Norma worked at the Fairfield Clothing Store in Fairfield, Conn., as a sales clerk for approximately the next 10 years until Lloyd’s retirement from First National Food of the Northeast after 35 years. They then packed their possessions and moved back to Bowling Green. Norma had a great love of playing the piano, for a period of time she played the piano for Jackson Grove Baptist Church, West Side United Methodist and at their church of their choice, the Faith United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting, crocheting and many other projects. She enjoyed baking bread and preserving foods by canning, freezing and making jellies and jams. Norma and Lloyd were very devoted to each other and the union brought together their respective families, all of whom survive.

Survivors include Norma’s son, Donald (Don) Glenn Meredith and his wife, Cheryl Rose, of Bowling Green, and her stepchildren, Gerald (Jerry) L. Bonta and his wife, Carolyn Todd, of Hamden, Conn., Diane M. Bonta Pettner and her husband, Gabriel (Gabe) Pettner of Orange, Conn., and Patricia (Pat) and her husband, Daniel (Dan) Conti of Stratford, Conn.; twins, Gary David Bonta and his wife, Joann Puffen of Stratford, Conn., and David Gary Bonta and his wife, Danielle (Dani) R. Clipet, of Perkinsville, Vt. Grandchildren include Leigh Meredith Fischer (Josh) of Jackson, Miss., Suzanne Pettner Monk of Connecticut, Daniel Conti of Connecticut, Veronica Bonta of Connecticut and Wendi Bonta of Connecticut.

The family has chosen cremation with burial in Fairview Cemetery No. 2. A Service of Celebration will be held at a future date. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Faith United Methodist Church, 600 Veterans Memorial Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42101-4420.

J.C. Kirby Funeral Chapel on Broadway is in charge of the arrangements.