FRANK & BETTY BONDI

Frank Bondi was born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the borough of Aspinwall. He served in the European Theater during World War II with the First Army from Normandy to Germany. In 1945, he returned to the States as a hospital patient and assigned to the ‘Greenbrier” Hospital where he met an Army nurse, 2nd Lt. Betty Smith from Kenton, Ohio who would become his wife. After their marriage, they spent several years in Pittsburgh, then moved to Kenton where Frank became involved in the financial life of Hardin County. During the next 47 years, Frank served his community in many areas. He was treasurer of the Hardin County Fair when many improvements were made, including the Grange Building, the Gazebo, and the Community Building. As a member of the Kenton Board of Education, the new Senior High School and the Oaklief Elementary School were completed. As moderator of the First Baptist Church, the new First Baptist Church east of Kenton in the Myers Addition was erected. While Frank was president of the Huntington First National Bank, the new bank building on the corner of Franklin and Main Streets was built in 1976, now known as the Liberty National Bank. Frank has been active in many fund raising activities. In  1971, the Kenton Area Chamber of commerce named him Citizen of the Year.

Betty accepted a position as a school nurse at Mr. Victory and Ridgeway and later was staff nurse for Hardin Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1987. She continued working part time with Hardin Hospice Care until 1996. Betty was and is very active in many civic activities. At present a volunteer for the Sullivan-Johnson Museum and a member of the American Cancer Society board. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Kenton, where she has held many offices, She is currently church clerk and is active and has held offices in the Baptist Missionary Society as well as the Regional American Baptist Churches Association. Betty enjoys reading, sewing, travel, and her role as a grandmother.