Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Slyvia Ruth Bonn died Thursday, November 1, 2018, at the age of 101, at Ginger Cove. Ruth was born November 26, 1916, in Bristol, Virginia and passed from all of us just 26 days short of her 102nd birthday.  Ruth is survived by one of three children Keith. Regretfully, her other two children Phyllis and Bruce had passed away.  Additionally, there are four grandchildren Darren and Ethan Lamiman, Daniel and Kristi Bonn and four great-grandchildren Michael and Sean Lamiman and Addison and Grayson Bonn. 

As a child, she was part of a radio show for her junior & senior years (1929-1933 ) in high school. She sang live on WOPI, Bristol’s 1st radio station from 5:30 to 6 every weekday. She sang with her sister and another set of sisters. They first called themselves, "The Kiddie String Quartet.”  The instruments were a tenor guitar, two regular guitars, and a ukulele. Ruth played one of the guitars. As they grew older, they renamed themselves the “Personality Girls.”  She graduated from Virginia Intermont College in 1936 In Bristol and later married Douglas Bonn in Richmond, Virginia in 1941. During WWII she worked for WPA in Richmond, then moved to Bethesda, MD in1945.  After the children had grown, she worked fulltime for NIOSH in Rockville, MD.  She received a federal award for her work at NIOSH. After retirement, she fulfilled a lifelong dream to become an artist.  She studied art and art history at Anne Arundel College through several teachers including Ester Ugo.  Ruth won many awards for her artwork and china painting.  Continuing her love of music, she joined the chorus at Ginger Cove, where Ruth had lived since June 2002, and participated in chorus performances for over a decade.  Her husband Doug had passed before moving to Ginger Cove.  After moving to Ginger Cove, she developed a deep friendship with Cliff Falkenau until his death in 2011.  She will be buried at Woodside Cemetery Ashton, Maryland at a private family ceremony.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Anne Episcopal Church Homeless Project, Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401 or to the Ginger Cove Foundation, 4000 River Crescent Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.


Silvia Ruth Bonn

Silvia Ruth Bonn

Silvia Bonn Services

No public services planned at this time