Bonnie Beth Lewis

Bonnie Beth (Boak) Lewis, former YWCA of Westmoreland Executive Director, died peacefully in her sleep on April 23, 2025. She was 75 years old. She is survived by her husband Rev. Jay W. Lewis, her son Jonathan (and his wife Shelley Burns; grandson Jasper; granddaughter Vivian); and her daughter Katherine (Lewis) Bowersox (and her husband Michael Bowersox; grandsons Heath and Charlie). She is also survived by her brother Rev. Bruce Boak (wife Martha), her sister Professor Betsy Craig (husband Robert), and a number of nieces and nephews. During her twenty-four years as the leader of the YWCA, program attendance grew from over 13,000 to nearly 60,000. She was instrumental in developing a Before and After school program, a summer daycare program for middle school girls, a community-based technology center, the Westmoreland Sportswomen of the Year Awards, and much more. The YWCA Racial Justice Study Circles program was formed with Bonnie’s guidance, and the International Women’s Group was expanded. During her tenure she spearheaded a number capital campaigns, enabling the organization to raise nearly three million dollars and build two new buildings, including the YWCA Thrift Shop.

She was a founding member of both the Unity Coalition, and of the Westmoreland Coalition on Housing. She also served on the board of directors of the Westmoreland Health and Welfare Council and the Pennsylvania State Children’s Trust Fund. She was selected by the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University as a CSI Fellow, participating in the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.She was a member of the National YWCA Reorganization Task Force and the National YWCA Operations Committee. She also was President of the Pennsylvania Council of YWCAs and Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council. In 2002 she represented the YWCA of the USA at the World YWCA International Training Institute in Geneva, Switzerland where she served on the Steering Committee and presented a strategic planning seminar. In 2005 Bonnie represented the YWCA USA at the YWCA quadrennial meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.Prior to joining the YWCA Bonnie worked for the American Red Cross as a national instructor in the Art of Helping. She was the recipient of the Westmoreland County 2000 Athena Award, a nationally acclaimed honor recognizing individuals for their business and professional accomplishments and their mentorship of other women.Following her retirement from the YWCA Bonnie became a member of the Westmoreland County Community College Foundation Board of Directors, and was also involved in volunteering for several other organizations. She especially loved her annual family vacations by the sea in Avalon, New Jersey! Bonnie was an elder of Latrobe Presbyterian Church, and an active lector and participant there in numerous Church presentations. 

A memorial service for Bonnie Lewis will be held at Latrobe Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 10, 2025, beginning at 11 o’clock; the family will be available to greet visitors there beginning at 10 that morning. In lieu of any service flowers, the family encourages you make a financial contribution to the YWCA of Westmoreland to support its ongoing work of eliminating racism and the empowerment of woman. May the Lord be with you. 

Kepple-Graft Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.