Bonnie Lou Muddiman Newlon

1944 - 2025

Bonnie Lou Muddiman Newlon

May 26, 1944 - July 29, 2025

Bonnie Lou Muddiman Newlon was born on May 26, 1944, in Roanoke, Va., passed peacefully from this earth on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the age of 81.

Bonnie Muddiman Newlon's brilliance and drive led her to positions that were rarely held by women of her era. She had a vast career in public service: County Administrator, Sociologist, Demographer, and Planner. In every capacity, she worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for the communities she served.

Ms. Muddiman Newlon graduated from William Fleming High School, Class of 1962. She attended the College of William and Mary, earning her Bachelors in Sociology and Anthropology in 1966. After graduation, she moved to Arizona where she enrolled in a master's program for urban planning while working at the Urban Renewal Department for the City of Tucson.

She received a Master's in Sociology and Demography from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She was a demographer for the World Bank, studying the global crisis of resource division, underdeveloped economies and disadvantaged populations. Her work led her to travel in West Africa, South America and South Asia.

Over the next twenty years, Ms. Muddiman Newlon's career concentrated on county administration, beginning in Botetourt County as Director of Public Works in Troutville, Va. She became the Assistant County Administrator for Botetourt County, creating the first dual county library serving both Roanoke and Botetourt County residents. In 1991, she helped launch Botetourt's first ever recycling program. She was the County Administrator of Cumberland County, the Assistant County Administrator of Franklin County and the County Administrator of Bath County.

Ms. Muddiman Newlon was a devoted Christian and active member of Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Va.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Paul and Susie Maxey Muddiman of Roanoke, Va.; and her beloved nephews, John Thomas Callaham of Houston, Texas and Abram Minter Patterson III of Atlanta, Ga.

Ms. Muddiman Newlon leaves her daughter, Melanie Elizabeth Newlon; and Melanie's father, Richard Newlon of Washington, D.C. She is survived by two sisters and their families, Patricia Ann and Bayliss O'Neal Callaham of Houston, Texas and Carolyn Elizabeth and Abram Minter Patterson Jr. M.D. of Roanoke, Va. Ms. Muddiman Newlon also leaves her niece, Ann O'Neal From of Houston, Texas; and her nephews, John Paul Patterson of Asheville, N.C. and Scott Nelson Callaham of Houston, Texas.

A private family memorial service will be conducted on Monday, August 18, 2025.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations to protecting the American Wild Mustangs through The Cloud Foundation http://www.thecloudfoundation.org. Condolences may be shared with her family by visiting www.Oakeys.com.