Bonita “Bonnie” June (Johnson) Gallagher, passed away on September 25, 2023, after recently celebrating her 94th birthday. She was born on August 6, 1929, in Deshler, Ohio, the daughter of Lawrence E. and Dorothy (Falk) Johnson. After graduating from Cygnet High School, she attended Bowling Green State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She married Marvin L. Gallagher on June 12, 1949, and raised two daughters in the same home in Maumee for over 65 years. Bonnie was employed by the Sylvania and Toledo School Districts for 33 years, teaching at Sylvania, Glann, and Hawkins Elementary Schools.
Bonnie had strong beliefs in faith, family, and friends, and as her refrigerator magnet said, if you were in her house, you were going to be hugged. She loved socializing, especially with family; going to movies; watching basketball or Ohio State games on TV; or rooting for her grandsons playing and coaching hockey in arenas. She also enjoyed reading; she was seldom without a book in her hand or her purse. Convinced in the educational enlightenment of travel, she traveled to all fifty states and many Canadian provinces, took a Mediterranean cruise with her sister, Betty, and explored the British Isles with her daughter, Jamie.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband; as well as her brother, William Johnson of Whitehouse; her sister, Beverly (Johnson) Rutter of Bowling Green; her brother, Robert Johnson of Ketchikan, Alaska; and her sister, Betty (Johnson) Jones of Bowling Green. She is survived by her sister, Barbara (Johnson) McLean of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; and her daughters, Teresa (Gallagher) Rishel (Jack) of Bowling Green and Dr. Jamie (Gallagher) Caffier (John Dickinson) of Harrisburg, PA. “Grandma” was especially proud of her four grandsons, Justin and Brett Caffier, both of Los Angeles, Jake (Jennifer) Rishel of Walpole, Massachusetts, and Trey Rishel of Bowling Green. She adored her twin great-grandsons, Maxwell and Finnegan Rishel; and also was a loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends and family will be received Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 1-3 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant Street, Maumee (419-893-7686) with a celebration of Bonnie’s life at 3 p.m. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made in Bonnie’s name to Bridge Hospice. Condolences may be made online to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.
