Bonnie Darlene Emrick Wombles, 81, of Pittsfield, died on July 4, at the Eastside Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. A nationally known antiques dealer, Bonnie was born October 25, 1929, in Valley City, Ill., a daughter of Thomas and Martha Beryl Crossman Emrick. At 16 years of age, she married Floyd Wombles in Bowling Green, Mo., on April 7, 1946. She attended Griggsville High School and graduated from Pleasant Hill High School after their marriage. Floyd preceded her in death on January 12, 2011.

During the time she was raising her children, Bonnie was active as an adult leader for 4-H and was president of Rockport Grade School PTA. She worked with Floyd in the fields, planting and harvesting crops, and preparing lunches for workers. She attended the Atlas Community Church with her family and her hobbies were square dancing and going to antiques auctions.

In 1966, Bonnie started Bonnie’s Carriage House Antiques. Her 40-plus years in the antiques field were marked by being one of the first and longest tenured members of the Heart of Country Antiques Shows in Nashville, Tenn. Known later as Wombles Antiques, she and Floyd were known for doing up to 30 shows per year in locations all over the Midwest and as far away as Maine, Florida, Alabama and Texas. Her expertise in early Americana and American country furniture with the original paint was highly regarded by her fellow dealers and clients alike.

No stranger to the press, Bonnie was featured and wrote articles in many antiques magazines and newspapers over the years, and her home was featured in Country Living magazine in September 1985 and her business in Mary Emmerling’s first book, American Country.

In more recent years, Bonnie served on the boards of both the Griggsville Historical Society and the Pike County Historical Society. She helped with the refurbishing of Shasta House and in researching items and organizing the historical society’s museum at East School. She was active in the Lincoln Project, was a volunteer for the Old Lincoln Museum and belonged to Sorosis. She was very proud to be a volunteer at the opening of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Ill. She and Floyd were members and served as deacons of the Unity Church, Quincy, Ill.

Bonnie is survived by her children, Rickard Wombles, and friend Mary Boehm, of Rockport, Ill.; Tom Wombles, and his wife Debbie, of Pittsfield; Cinda Pettigrew, and her husband Jim, of Champaign, Ill.; and Jane Smith, and her husband Bart, of Barry, Ill. Eleven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren also survive her. Her beloved son, Jerry, and her brother, Ronald Emricke, preceded her in death, along with her husband, her parents and two stepfathers.

Services will be conducted on Sunday, July 17, at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with the Reverend Mike Teneyck officiating. Private interment will be in the Wombles Cemetery near Rockport, Ill. Visitation will be conducted from 11 am until time of service on July 17 at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to be made to the Pike County Historical Society or the Lincoln Project. Condolences may be sent to the family at info@nieburfh.com .

Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.