Our sister-in-Christ Linda Torres graduated to glory on December 17th, 2020. It was an honor and a privilege serving the Lord alongside her and we look forward to the day that we all will meet again! Please keep her husband, Ruben, and her family in your prayers.

Linda Lee Bonnell Torres was born on August 14, 1943, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Alice Josephine Lossee Bonnell and George Borden Bonnell. Her stepfather was Gerald Federspiel. Linda was raised along with her siblings, Lois, Dolores, Gary and Janet in Saginaw, Michigan.

Linda graduated Saginaw High School in 1961, and later worked in Saginaw as a waitress, salesclerk, and at a book supply company. On April 1, 1963, Linda accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and would later leave to Long Beach, California, and attended Christians in Action School in 1964 and became a missionary. She served 13 years as a missionary in Mexico where she met her husband-to-be, Ruben Torres, who was a co-pastor at a small church In Mexico City.

Together, they later joined the American Missionary Fellowship after they married on August 27, 1970, and raised two beautiful children, Rebeca and Elizabeth in Mexico City, and Puebla, Mexico, and later relocated to the Rio Grande Valley. Linda loved her daughters, and in her heart, she always prayed that they would faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. She served her Lord in different ministries: Door to door evangelism, home Bible studies, church planting, child evangelism, training lay people to do evangelism, Vacation Bible schools, home-bound youth outreach, nursing-home ministries for the elderly as a volunteer chaplain. Linda and Ruben served for 38 years with the American Missionary Fellowship.

Seeking a calling to further her education, Linda attended Texas Technical College, Harlingen in 1980 where she earned her real estate license, and in 1996 earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Texas-Pan American. In 2001, she received her elementary teaching certificate. She applied her learned skills and served as a Legal Advocate at Family Crisis Center, which was her passion to assist victims of domestic violence. In 2014, she also served with Ruben and joined Be One  Together, as full-time missionaries.

Among other interests, Linda liked animals and had a special fondness for cats, in addition to cooking, teaching, and bead-work. She suffered the last five years of her wonderful life with debilitating health issues, but her faith and trust in her Lord Jesu Christ remained steadfast and strong. Her favorite Bible Verse remained Psalm 91 and she shared this chapter with many people. Linda’s last calling came on December 17, 2020, where she was received by her Creator and Lord Jesus Christ to be in His presence. It was Linda’s desire to return home to be with the One she most loved, and now she rejoices in being in His presence, made whole, and relieved of all earthly pain and suffering.

Linda leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Ruben, having shared 50 years of marriage; her daughters: Rebeca Guerra, Elizabeth Zamora (Joaquin), four granddaughters: Katherine, Sarah, Abby, and Emily. Her sisters Janet Harris (Richard); Dolores Gustat (+Mike); and Gary Bonnell (Maylene), proceeding in death (+Lois) and a host of family, friends and church family.

Family services will be held on January 8, 2020.