Sonja G. Bender, 82 of Mount Vernon passed away on January 19, 2025 at her residence. She was born to Lonnie and Florence (Horsley) Shoemaker in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Sonja was a graduate of Mansfield Senior High School. Class of 1960. She then went on to earn her BA at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She was also Co-Valedictorian. She was a member of Alpha Chi and Phi Delta Lambda. Sonja earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary. She worked as an elementary school librarian and art teacher prior to her work in the ministry. She was a substitute preacher for a Nazarene Church while she was in college earning her degrees. Sonja went on to serve as a Pastor at Liberty Chapel UMC, Union Salem Family Church UMC, Kilbourne UMC and First United Methodist Church of North Liberty. She and her husband Donald enjoyed having horses, gardening, bike riding and having fun! Sonja also enjoyed teaching toll painting, reading all kinds of books and especially her Bible. She was very skilled at and enjoyed playing the autoharp. She was a professional singer and was asked to sing at different locations around Ohio. Sonja was a giver and loved helping anyone she could.
Sonja is survived by her children Alana Bender and Donald Todd Bender both of Mount Vernon, Ohio; sister-in-laws Janet Shoemaker of Brushwood, Maryland, Mary Shoemaker of Mansfield, Ohio and many nieces and nephews and extended family members.
Sonja was preceded in death by her husband Donald Lee Bender and her parents brothers Boyd Allen Shoemaker, Gary Shoemaker and Donald Lee Shoemaker.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com