Bonnie Jean Brown

Bonnie Jean Brown, 81, of Morgantown, passed from this earthly life on July 21, 2026 at Sundale Nursing Home. She was born on March 21, 1945 in Pasadena, California and lived her early life with her parents, Gerald and Harriet Binkerd in Alhambra, CA.

She addended Pasadena City College, studying music and dance. She met her life-long soulmate, James Brown in 1968. The couple quickly became best friends and knew they wanted to marry within three months. Bonnie married Jim on July 4, 1969, always to have a holiday and fireworks.

Bonnie and Jim moved to the Pacific Northwest town of Aberdeen, Washings where Jim finished 5 years as a social worker, became a court administrator and then moved to Seattle for graduate school at the University of Washington. Bonnie worked for several years as a property manager until she and Jim moved to West Virginia in 1980 so Jim could join the faculty at WVU.

Once married to Jim, Bonnie embraced his Christian Science Church where, over the years they shared duties as readers (chaplains) and other church offices. Once settled in Morgantown, Bonnie and Jim began a 30 year annual trek to Lily Dale, NY for theological training for Bonnie and spiritual healing in Reiki and Chi Gung. Bonnie was ordained in the Church of the Living Spirit. In those same years, the couple found Chautauqua, a few miles from Lily Dale. Eventually, they would serve for ten years as chaplains at the Christian Science House of Chautauqua. They were able to attend lectures by some of the great spiritual thinkers of our day, including Karen Armstrong, John Shelby Spong and Huston Smith.

At home, Jim and Bonnie became active in the Osher Lifelong Learners program at WVU. Once retired, they gave more time to OLLI while pursuing their lifelong love of theater, musical concerts and their two cats. Both are avid readers on a wide canvas of ideas.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Harriet Binkerd, and her brother, David Binkerd.

There will be no funeral or memorial service. Cremation arrangements are being provided by Hastings Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, West Virginia University Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650.

Send condolences online at hastingsfuneralhome.com