Bonnie Black of Pacific Palisades, a former beauty pageant winner and judge, passed away peacefully on July 3 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. She was 76.’ Bonnie was born in South Chicago, Indiana, to Peter and Mildred Nicksic, and they moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1946. She graduated from the University of Arkansas and was crowned Miss Arkansas in 1952.’ Following that, she was a model for the Patricia Stevens Agency in Chicago. Bonnie married Robert Branch in 1956.’ Bonnie was a successful realtor in Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills for 30 years and also spent many years judging beauty pageants in several states. She was active in WAIF and other community charitable organizations, and was a devoted member of St. Matthew’s Parish. Bonnie married Charles Black in 1982.’ She is survived by her husband, Charles Black; her beloved mother, Mildred Nicksic of Hot Springs, Arkansas; daughter Laura Branch Rehnert of Weston, Massachusetts; son Peter Branch of Westchester, California; and five grandchildren and’three stepsons. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal School-Debt Reduction Campaign, P.O. Box 1117, Hot Springs, AR 71901.’Interment will be in Hot Springs. A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held, at a date to be announced, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on Bienveneda.
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