Bonalynn Chism Obit*

Albion Journal Register 1953
*Miss Bonalynn Chism Passed Away Saturday.

Funeral services for Miss Bonalynn Chism, member of Albion high school teaching faculties since 1932, were held at the Albion Christian church Monday afternoon, Rev. John Elliott Foster, the pastor, officiating, Classes at Edwards Senior High were dismissed for the afternoon and services were largely attended by students, former students and the many friends. Interment was at Graceland.
Miss Chism passed away at the Olney sanitarium Saturday morning. She was stricken shortly after she arrived at school Thursday morning and her condition became progressively worse. She had been a heart patient for some years.
Daughter of Charles and Lettie Lollar Chism, deceased was born in Albion on
February 8, 1900 and most of her life was spent here. She attended Albion schools and later attended and graduated from Eureka College at Eureka. She also attended Columbia University in New York. Following her graduation from Eureka, she taught in the high school at Pleasant Plains for three years. She joined the faculty of Albion Community High School three years later and had been teacher of English in the local high school since that time.
Gifted with a lovely soprano voice, which was developed by training in college, she taught chorus in the local high school for a number of years. She also was a leader and director of the choir at the Albion Christian Church and gave freely of her unusual musical talent whenever called upon.
After her graduation from high school and before her entrance into college she was employed in the O. A. Bunting garage here, and in addition served as the first corresponding secretary of the Albion Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of Chapter No. 517, Order of Eastern Star and was a charter member of the Delta Theta Tau sorority.
Despite her poor health the past several years, she continued her busy, active life and maintained a cheerful, happy outlook on life. She was one of Albion's outstanding women.
Surviving is a sister, Mrs. G. R. Hilgeman of Albion. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Porter in 1934 and Howard in 1950.