Bonnie J. Odle

Bonnie J. (Weaver) Odle, 101, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 7, 2023, at Westminster Village, Muncie. Mrs. Odle was born in Kusa, Oklahoma, on January 6, 1922, the daughter of Fred and Cleo (Beekman) Weaver. After a short period, the family moved to Anderson, Indiana, where she graduated with honors from Anderson High School in 1940. She attended Taylor University and graduated cum laude in 1944 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History and later that year, on July 8, married the love of her life, Don J. Odle. She also attended Indiana University in 1945 and received a Master of Arts degree in Education from Ball State University in 1956.

In 1952, her husband, Don Odle, started Venture for Victory, a sports evangelism program that traveled around the world with college all-star teams using basketball as a means to present the gospel. Mrs. Odle was a vital part of that mission with her husband from 1952 to 1964. Mrs. Odle was also a high school teacher in Frankton and Aurora, Indiana, and later in college where she enjoyed being in the classroom.

She was a resident of Upland, Indiana, for 51 years, living on Taylor University's campus and was a part-time resident of Oldsmar, Florida, for 20 years. During her years at Taylor, the Odle home was known for the Odle's hospitality. For many years their home was visited by missionaries, athletic teams, celebrities, professional athletes, and a wide circle of friends and alumni. Taylor University honored Mrs. Odle with an Alumni Service Award in 1966, an Alumni Merit Award in 1969, a Distinguished Alumna award in 1994, and in 2007, the gymnasium at Taylor was re-named the Don and Bonnie Odle Arena in honor of their work in sports evangelism and years of service to Taylor University.

In 1998, the Odles moved to Westminster Village in Muncie. She was a member of Upland United Methodist Church for many years, where she taught the junior high school Sunday School class for over 15 years and was a member of United Methodist Women. Her joy was to be a participant or teacher of Bible study groups in Upland, Muncie, and Florida. She also was active in Christian Women's Club. After moving to Muncie, she was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church until her death. While at Westminster, she was involved in hospitality ministry and taught a Bible study for 12 years. Along with her love of hospitality and teaching the Bible, Mrs. Odle had a life-long love of golf, playing with her husband and in a women's golf league over the years. She took piano lessons and loved to play the piano. Mrs. Odle loved serving others as an expression of her Christian faith.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan (Larry) Belcher, Indianapolis; 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don J. Odle, and a son, David F. Odle. A Celebration of Life Service will be held December 2 at 11 a.m. on the campus of Taylor University, in the Rediger Chapel at the LaRita Boren Campus Center. The burial will be in Jefferson Cemetery, Upland. Memorials may be made to the Don and Bonnie Odle Scholarship Fund or to the Taylor Athletic Department for sports mission projects, Taylor University, 1846 Main St., Upland, Ind. 46989-1101. Arrangements for Bonnie have been entrusted to the Jones-Smith Chapel of Armes-Hunt Life Celebration Funeral and Cremation Services. Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.