Ms. Bonnie Wilson Lutz

The following obituary was written by Bonnie several years ago. She died on Monday, November 10, 2025 in Elgin, SC at The Blake of Woodcreek Farms assisted living facility.
-
Sometimes life throws you an "Unexpected Turn." I was born to Ruth James Wilson and Worth Wilson, January 27, 1944 in Greensboro, NC. The "UT" went to my sister, Carolyn Wilson Bowers, who had been the only child for nearly 6 years – hey! Get use to it – I'm staying around for a while!
No UT's for the next 4 years – just growing up. A BIG UT came when my father died and we moved to Chester, SC, where we lived with my grandmother, Susie Owen James (Mama Sue). A pretty normal childhood followed, and somehow I managed to graduate from Chester High School in 1962 – I was more interested in playing basketball, being in the band playing the flute and performing as a majorette then in making good grades. However, Wingate (Junior College at that time) accepted me, so I attended a year, BUT...
At the age of 18, in 1962, I married James Gordon Lutz, and in 1963 a HUGE "UT" came to Jim and me when our son, Gordon Scott Lutz was born, way too young to be parents – but, there you have it. Two more children, James Todd, 1967, and Dorothy Ruth (Dee), 1974, named after her grandmothers, rounded out our family. Managing a family didn't keep me from finally completing my education, so in my late 30's I went to the University of South Carolina, graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted in Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in Elementary Education. Eventually I obtained my Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. This all from a gal who barely made it out of high school – guess you could call this another "UT."
For the next 27 years I taught school and was honored to be chosen Teacher of the Year at Caughman Road Elementary School, and received national recognition (first place 3 years in a row for our Literary Magazine) of which I was the creator and editor, and national recognition of our school newspaper of which I was the editor for two years. Not too shabby, huh?
But, along came those "Unexpected Turns" again when in 1991 our marriage ended in a divorce, and in 1994, at the age of 27, my beautiful son, Todd, died. How do you survive such sadness? Always at the center of my life has been my faith that Jesus Christ is Lord. If you ask Him each day to help you get through life's tough Unexpected Turns, He will! In memory of Todd we established a scholarship fund at our church. Over the years we have given thousands of dollars to our graduating high school seniors – truly something to be proud of!
In 1996, I was hired by Bethel United Methodist Church as the Director of Education, Youth and Family Ministries (I was still teaching! But having this second job kept my thoughts on the positives of life rather than the negatives.) For 15 years my church kept me busy!! I loved serving my Lord through the work at the church over the tenure of three ministers and in particular working with teens.
Scott moved to San Diego, after graduating from Furman and South Carolina School of Law, where he began his career as an attorney, and later married Lori. Dee began work as the music teacher at Caughman after graduating from Columbia College, and soon married Patrick McElderry. Dee and Patrick presented me with my grandson, Michael (2005) and granddaughter Kate (2008) – I love them dearly!
So what do you do with an "empty nest?" You fill it up with work, Pomeranians, and dollhouses, that's what! Daisy, Lily, Miss Priss, Rambo and Rocky, my poms for over 25 years (I didn't have them all at the same time!) have been my best friends and companions. One room box and two dollhouses (a haunted house and a Christmas house) won first place at the State Fair. I now have had a haunted house at the Riverbanks "Boo at the Zoo" celebration, and 8 story book creations in miniature at the Cooper Branch Library on display – not to mention over 400 guests in my home over the years who have toured all my creations! I also was asked to help judge the dollhouse entries at the State Fair. What an honor!! This has been an enormously satisfying hobby.
Yep, life throws you some Unexpected Turns, some good, some not so good, but as I look back over the years, I know that God has indeed blessed me with a loving and supportive family, great friends, two fulfilling jobs that I loved, and the knowledge that someday soon I'll be with the God that I love. I hope I've made a difference along the way.
-
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son, James Todd Lutz and sister, Carolyn W. Bowers. Bonnie is survived by her son, Gordon Scott Lutz (Lori) of California and daughter, Dorothy Ruth McElderry (Patrick) of Columbia. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael and Kate McElderry both of Columbia.
A visitation will be held for Bonnie on Saturday November 15th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Shives Funeral Home located at 7600 Trenholm Road Ext. A Service will be held on Sunday, November 16th at 2:00 PM at Bethel United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Bonnie to the Todd Lutz Scholarship Fund at Bethel United Methodist Church, 4600 Daniel Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.