Donald Glenn Meredith

Donald Glenn Meredith passed away in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 27, 2022 following several weeks of hospitalization for an undetermined health problem. Since there were different medical conditions, pinpointing the actual diagnosis was not actually achieved.
Don was born on September 22, 1945 to William Bernard Meredith and Norma McCluskey Meredith. William was a World War II Veteran. The couple divorced and re-married three times.
Until he left and she was all alone to raise their son with the help of her parents James and Melvirna McCluskey, he received a loving bringing-up as a young teenager, he took a job mowing lawns and to help his mother pay bills. His grandfather furnished the mower and gas and got to keep his earnings for the 30 plus yards he mowed.
His education took place at first T.C. Cherry Elementary, then a switch to 11th Street Elementary then on to B.G. Junior High School and finally Bowling Green Senior High School in 1963. Following graduation, Don received a little guidance from a cousin, who was a pilot in the United States Airforce, telling him that if Don didn't want to go to college he should go ahead and enlist in the military as a volunteer and picking in the branch he wanted to serve.
Truly a wise suggestion since the Vietnam war was causing civilians to be drafted and put into a branch not of their choosing. So, Don took the cousins advise and enrolled into the United States Air Force. That Fall he was sent by a bus to Louisville, KY then flown to basic training in San Antonio, TX. Sure enough, while he was there, he received a notice from the draft board telling him he was to report to be drafted, He contacted them back and told the office where he was and if they wanted him, they would have to come get him. He received a reply saying that after he completed his tour of duty, He would still need to sign up for the draft and be on stand-by for a certain amount of time, which he did and was put in a certain classification for 2 years.
So, from Texas, he was sent to So, California until one day he received orders telling him he was being sent to Weisbaden, Germany to work in the field of communication for a tour to last for 2 years. This was a good learning experience and gave him the opportunities to travel. Sometimes he would hitch a ride with a pilot who was having to put in flighting hour and would invite him to come along.
When not on the job or taking plane rides somewhere, Don took an interest in bowling at the local bowling alley. Being a frequent customer, the guy who ran the bowling alley showed Don how to service the ball returns or work on the pins better which would require special attention. He also was on various teams and participated in tournaments which gave him good experience bowling at Crescent Lane when he returned home and bowled in a league for utility company employees. He even got his wife to bowl with him in a couple leagues. Their team took the first-place awards for one season.
After returning home from his overseas tour of duty, he was like a man without a country, trying to figure out what to do with his life, several folks suggested he try for a job with the local telephone company. So, he went for a job on in house repair work. Since he already had been trained while in the military, he had learned enough to pass the entrance exam. This one event eventually lasted for a period of 35 years when he was finally asked to retire after 2 heart attacks and 2 strokes plus dealing with uncontrollable diabetes. However, during his time at the Bowling Green office when he hired on, he witnessed and participated in the growth of the telecommunications field from the onsite telephone operator to no operators and a fully automated system with computers and fiber optics connecting lines and handheld phones.
In 1969, Don became a member of Bowling Green Lodge #73 of Free and Accepted Masons. During his 50 years of membership, he took an active roll in the local lodge and the 4 York Rite bodies. He was the head officer of each of the groups making him eligible for membership in the York Rite Legion of Honor. Don also served as a state appointed officer in the Kentucky State Commandery during the term of the honorable Jack Hodges. The two gentlemen toured the state together and visited the various commandery chapters.
Becoming a member of the Bowling Green Shrine Club brought about many wonderful opportunities, from marching in parades as a member of the color guard to sponsoring a crippled child to go for treatment at one of the Shrine Hospitals for Crippled Children. One case involved a young boy who had been severely burned and the mesh football jersey had melted into his body. He needed a med-vac helicopter trip to a burn hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. The child had to be escorted by an adult. The child's mother was afraid to fly, so Don volunteered to take the trip. Needless to say, it was an experience Don will never forget.
Don was also active in two of the Youth Organizations the Mason's sponsored. First the DeMola Chapter for Boys, where he served on the Board of Directors. Then there was the Bowling Green Assembly of the Order of Rainbows for Girls, which he and his wife Cheryl, were the Charter Advisors when the Assembly was organized with 82 members in 1974.
In 1975, Don became interested in the field of genealogy and soon became an avid participant. His hours of research on the computer also took him to various libraries including Kentucky Library on WKU's campus, the SAR's Library in Louisville, KY and a library in Nashville, TN. He would also visit the cemeteries in Warren, Edmonson, Grayson, Daviess, and Jefferson counties in KY, in addition to several military cemeteries in KY and TN. All of these locations were in searching for his own family to publish a book, which fortunately is still a work in progress.
Recently, he completed researching and recording the names of the men who served as the Master of the B.G. Masonic Lodge #73. This dated from 1822-2020. He completed the project, giving copies to the B.G. Chapter #73 and to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. He followed this project by doing extensive research on the entire history of the B.G. Lodge #73. However, his sudden illness has also left this project unfinished. It is now for someone to take up and bring the project to completion so that Don's work will not be for naught.
Living in the Bungalows Assisted Living for Seniors at Bowling Green has seen Meredith's moving from a two-bedroom house on S. Sunrise when they married on June 3, 1972; then to a four-bedroom house on Thompson Drive; then to a three bedroom apartment at Chandler Apartments; and finally to a one bedroom/ living room at The Bungalows. All of these have created challenges for the family that grown to three. While living on Glendale in 1979, Don and Cheryl adopted their daughter, Leigh Kendrick Meredith who has become Mrs. Harry Stokes of Lexington, South Carolina. Doing family "things" "together" meant Girl Scouts, where Don became a Girl Scout, really and an Assistant Troop Leader with Cheryl. At one time they were working with three different levels of Girl Scouting. There were trips to the NASA Space Museum, for 2 of 3 times, to the Columbus Science Museum in Columbus, Ohio, and a trip to St. Louis, Missouri. All of these occasions provided many opportunities for fellowship, fun and learning.
A life filled with adventure also included family activities as a member of the Bowling Green First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where he and Cheryl were married. Don was immediately called upon to become a Deacon and was eventually elected an Elder. He was finally given the honor being an Elder Emeritus. The Meredith's were the Co-Chairs of the week-long celebration of it's 150th Anniversary, which was a wonderful event with the return of several former ministers.
Being Dedicated supporters of WKU Athletics, took Don and his wife, a WKU graduate, to Hilltopper football and for 18 years they were enthusiastic followers of Lady Topper Basketball and were season ticket holders, with bus trips to Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN. Then in 2009, when B.G. Hot Rods Baseball Team came to town, the couple became Season Ticket Holders and missed and never missed an opening night of the season until this 2022 Season when his health will cause them to miss this event. Hot Rod's Baseball is a great family event and anyone who enjoys baseball and the outdoors should make an effort to go out to the ballpark and have some fun.
Don, whose parents Norma Bonta and step-father Lloyd H. Bonta are deceased. He is survived by his wife Cheryl Rose Meredith, there to be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 60 days on June 3rd. He is also survived by his daughter, Leigh Meredith Stokes (Harry); and two step-granddaughters, Helen and Abigail Stokes. They live in Lexington, South Carolina. Brother-in-law, Richard D. Rose (Donna) and the Rose's family; nephew Stephen Rose (Jeannie) and their children, Nathan and Maddie that live in Cleveland, Ohio; nieces, Kristen Rose Whitten (Tim) and their children Adam, Caitlin and Kelsey that live in Fulton, Mississippi; Robin Rose Plata (Andre) and their twin daughters Taylor and Evelyn that live in Arlington, Texas.
When Don's mother married Lloyd, she took on four children plus one already married who became his step sisters and step-brothers.
There are also survivors who live in Connecticut and Vermont. They are Gerald L. Bonta (Carolynne M.); Diana Pattner (Gabe), their children Jeffery (deceased) and Suzanne; Patricia Bonta Conti (Dan) and their son Daniel; David G. Bonta, twin (Danielle) and the other twin Gary D. Bonta (Joann), their children Veronica and Windy.
One of the joys Don got from all his research was discovering that family members had been actively involved in the early years of America's fight for freedom. They fought and died in the wars on it's soil. He found a particular soldier who participated in the American Revolution. This discovery led Don to become a member of Society of American Revolution and he became an active participant in the local Charles Duncan SAR Chapter and the Kentucky Society of SAR. He served as the President of both groups, Color Guard and attended National Congresses in Baltimore, Md. and Orlando, FL.
Don and Cheryl co-chaired on behalf of the local SAR & DAR Chapters events for the children of BG and Warren County to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Warren County. There were essay and poster contests and a parade to feature florist designed and decorated by each school and parade in downtown BG and held for the scout troops and school banks; with Jr. ROTC from BGHS leading the way. About thirty units participated.
Don's funeral will be on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel with visitation on Thursday, March 31 in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Masonic Service will be at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral hour on Friday at the Funeral Home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery with an Honor Guard to play Taps. All arrangements are under J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital or the Bowling Green/ Warren County Humane Society.