Bonnie Jean Baldwin - November 8, 1933 - December 18, 2023
Bonnie was born to Marion and Morrison Chalmers in Bellflower, CA in 1933. As an only
child to two beach-lovers, Bonnie spent warm summers in Southern California on the sand
and in the waves; her early love for the ocean would stay with her the rest of her life.
She first met Vance as a freshman at Excelsior Union High School where they had adjoining
lockers, and they started dating their senior year. They both attended Fullerton Junior
College. Bonnie left her sophomore year when she was appointed Grand Worthy Advisor of
the International Order of Rainbow for Girls and began traveling throughout the state of
California for Official Visits to the many Rainbow chapters. In 1953 they married and moved
to San Luis Obispo where they both worked to put Vance through Cal Poly. They raised their
three children in Gilroy where Bonnie was known for her hospitality and welcoming nature -
holiday gatherings, Sunday watch parties for countless 49er games, and simple family
dinners for Vance's colleagues. Everyone that entered her home was made to feel safe and
welcome, greeted with a smile and good food.
Bonnie and Vance moved to St. Helena in 1977, where they continued to meet people who
would become lifelong friends, before finally settling in Monterey in 1985 where they
reconnected with many people, making new friends while keeping the old.
As her children grew, Bonnie went back to work. One of her favorite experiences was her
time working in the licensing office for Peanuts artist Charles Schultz, where she would help
Snoopy and friends make their way to lunchboxes across the world.
Bonnie was an avid reader, enjoyed being a member of her church book club, and received
enough history and archeology magazines each month to fill a special shelf reserved just for
them; she always had a stack of novels on her bedside table.
After Bonnie and Vance moved to Monterey, they would take frequent morning walks along
the trail, usually ending with a stop for coffee. They visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium with
their eight grandchildren, built and nourished a stunning backyard garden, continued to host
loud and happy family parties, and were active members of their community at church and
various charity organizations. Bonnie was a docent at Casa Serrano, organized the Octoplus
group at their church for many years, and volunteered with I-HELP.
Bonnie and Vance loved to travel together, venturing to Honduras and China as well as
traveling across Europe and a good part of the United States. They also took their
grandchildren, two at a time, on "Mission Trips" which were focused on fun, with a bit of
California history thrown into the mix.
Bonnie passed away peacefully on December 18th, 2023.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years Vance; three children: Jeannine, (Steve); Greg,
(Denise); and Janice; eight grandchildren: Matthew, (Adrienne); Jillian; Rory, (Shannon);
Ryan, (Emma); Marissa, (Sean); Natalie; Alexandra; Dominic, (Amberly); and three great
grandchildren.
Donations can be made in her name to the First Presbyterian Church, or the Monterey
Public Library. Services will be held January 20th at 1:00 at First Presbyterian Church of
Monterey.