Bonne Kathryn Stroman

“A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops.” Henry Adams

Bonne Kathryn Stroman passed away in Bedford, TX on February 7, 2023 at the age of seventy-four. Bonne was born in Laredo, TX on November 21, 1948, the third child of Bobby and Thelma Hunter of Hebbronville, TX. Raised in Hebbronville with her three sisters, grandparents, and many cousins and friends, she enjoyed riding horses and often accompanied her grandfather Hunter on trips to the ranch to work cattle. She attended school in Hebbronville, played percussion in the Longhorn Marching Band, and graduated as valedictorian of Hebbronville High School’s class of 1966. She was also Miss Petrolee in the Freer Oil-O-Rama Pageant.

While in high school she fell in love with David Stroman, of another South Texas ranching family. David enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War while Bonne attended college at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. They married in August of 1968 and moved to Norfolk, VA where David was stationed. Bonne finished her Bachelor of Arts at Old Dominion University there in 1970. After David’s enlistment in the Navy ended, Bonne and David moved to Mannheim, Germany where David worked as a schoolteacher for the Department of Defense. Their son, Jeffrey, was born in Germany in 1973. Afterwards they lived in Izmir, Turkey for four years, then in Cádiz, Spain for three years. Bonne and David loved Spain because it reminded them of their South Texas roots. In 1980 they returned to Alice, TX. David joined his father-in-law, Bobby Hunter, in forming Hunter-Stroman Oil Company, and Bonne began her teaching career with Alice Independent School District. Bonne later earned a master’s degree from Texas A&I in Kingsville, TX.

Bonne’s students will never forget “The Stromanator," their affectionate term for a teacher who was determined that they learn their English literature and grammar. Bonne later moved to Weatherford, TX, to be nearer her son’s growing family and taught at Mineral Wells High School. Bonne was an active and near constant presence at her grandchildren’s activities, school plays, concerts, sports games, and band contests.

She was a proud member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for outstanding women educators, frequently holding office in her local chapters and serving on numerous state level committees. She also enjoyed being a member of Toastmasters where she practiced her speaking abilities as a member of several clubs. She earned three Distinguished Toast Master honors in 2009, 2017, and 2020, and served the organization as District Governor in 2012-13. She was a member of MENSA, the high IQ society, and the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Bonne is predeceased by her husband, David, parents Bobby and Thelma Hunter, sister Bobbe Joy MacMahon, parents-in-law Tom and Edie Stroman, and sister-in-law Coryn Klein. Bonne is survived by her son Jeffrey Stroman and his wife Suzanne, grandchildren Katherine Stroman and Knox Stroman, sisters Bette Ash and Laurie Olson, brother-in-law Darrell Olson, sisters-in-law Donna Snelling, Linda Genung, and Pat Itzkoff, nieces Rachal Ash, Shannon MacMahon, Beth Olson, Pam Hill, Heidi Nelson, Cami Shieff, and Julie Ruby, and nephews P. J. MacMahon, Neal Olson, Shawn Snelling, Van Genung, and Gerry Itzkoff, as well as many other family members and friends.

Services will be held February 17 at Lucas Funeral Home, 1321 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX. Viewing/Visitation will take place at 1:00pm with a memorial service following at 2:00pm. A graveside memorial service will be held at the Hunter Family Cemetery in Alice, TX at a later date. Donations in Bonne’s memory may be made to KERA, Bonne’s favorite public radio station, or to your favorite charity. KERA is at 3000 Henry Hines Blvd, Dallas TX 75201 or kera.org.

On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 2:00 pm, a Live Stream of Bonne's Celebration of Life will be viewable here: https://video.ibm.com/channel/DURgpAb2EXm