Bonnie Lee (Blystone) Protz, 80, of Blairsville, PA passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in The Gardens, Indiana, PA.
The daughter of Charles and Ora Mae (Libengood) Blystone, she was born on August 23, 1944, in Pittsburgh PA.
Bonnie was a graduate of Blairsville High School, Class of 1962.
Shortly after graduating from high school and passing the Civil Service exam, Bonnie traveled on a bus with other high school graduates with secretarial skills to work in Washington, D.C. Prior to her retirement in 1992, she worked for the Naval Department as a Budget Clerk Analyst at the Pentagon. While working in Washington D.C., she met her late husband, Michael Protz, a US Navy Veteran and student on the GI Bill, who was also from the Blairsville area.
Bonnie and Michael spent their lives traveling throughout the United States and abroad, enjoying ski trips with family members and their Virginia friends. They became avid fishermen and enjoyed boating when they moved to Punta Gorda, FL after moving from the D.C. and Virginia area. They later resided in Unicoi, TN where they built their dream home facing the mountains. They were both self-taught wine connoisseurs, as they referred to themselves, from traveling and touring wineries. Bonnie was an avid football fan, especially the Steelers. She watched college and pro football faithfully each week. After Mike’s passing, Bonnie sold their home in Tennessee and moved back to her hometown of Blairsville to be near her sister, Garnet Citeroni, and other family members.
Bonnie’s joy in life was socializing with friends and family, eating out, and sharing stories that included much laughter.
Surviving is her brother, Arthur Blystone (Barb) of Latrobe; her half-brother, Greg Krinock (Judy) of Plain City, OH; four sisters-in-law, Terry (Protz) Falik of Southampton, Helen (Protz) Mireles of Summerville SC, Doris Keefer of Saxonburg and Deb Oaks of Columbiana, OH; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 46 years, Michael Protz, on August 7, 2018, and her siblings, William Oaks, Jr., Harry Oaks, Garnet (Oaks) Citeroni, Charles Blystone, Jr., and Anna Ruth (Blystone) Keefer.
Per Bonnie’s wishes, there will be no services.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville has been entrusted with the arrangements.
To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences visit www.shoemakerfamilyservices.com.
