William Joseph Bonner

1939 - 2016

William Joseph Bonner obituary, 1939-2016, Meridian, ID

FUNERAL HOME

Cremation Society of Idaho - Boise

5541 West Overland Rd

Boise, Idaho

William Bonner Obituary

William Joseph Bonner
1939 - 2016
William Joseph "Bill" Bonner died on July 15, 2016 after an extended bout with cancer. He was born on August 16, 1939, to Joseph Bonner and Aldine Eleanor Bonner, in Nowata, Oklahoma, the first of three children. After graduating from the Nowata Public Schools in 1957, he attended Phillips University on a National Merit Scholarship, graduating in 1961. Thereafter he attended the George Washington University School of International Relations on a Scottish Rite Fellowship.
He was commissioned as a line officer in 1962 in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Alstede (AF-48) and the USS Conway (DD-507). He married the former Sue Hope Johnson, whom he met at Phillips, on August 11, 1963. They have two children, William Christian (Wim) Bonner and Eleanor Hope Bonner, of Seattle and Boise, and two grandchildren, Aidan Brace Gamel and Megan Marie Gamel, of Boise. He is also survived by his sisters, Martha Ann Bonner and Linda Bonner Frost.
Bill and Sue traveled extensively, both for employment and enjoyment, including Apollo, Pennsylvania; Carrollton, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Valdez, Alaska; Lexington, Kentucky; Parrish, Florida; and Boise, Idaho. Bill graduated from The George Washington University Law School in 1969, and thereafter was employed as an attorney and then an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska. He served as an Acting District Court Judge in Valdez before returning to private practice.
In 1999 he returned to graduate school, obtaining a Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Divinity from the Lexington Theological Seminary in 2002. Practice as a supervisor with the Child Development Center in Florida was cut short to spend more time with family, so Bill and Sue moved to the Boise area in 2004 to retire.
Scattering of his ashes at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery will take place at a private ceremony. No memorial service is planned, donations to charities in his name would be welcomed.

Published by Idaho Statesman on Jul. 24, 2016.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for William Bonner

Sponsored by The Idaho Statesman.

Not sure what to say?





2 Entries

Bill was a classmate of mine in Nowata many moons ago, so sorry for your loss & just know he's no longer suffering.

Butch Nunnallee

July 29, 2016

To all family and friends..please take comfort from God and know his suffering is over..God will take care of BI'll from here...love to all Christine Mann

Christine Mann

July 26, 2016

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results

Make a Donation
in William Bonner's name

Memorial Events
for William Bonner

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Cremation Society of Idaho - Boise

5541 West Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83705

How to support William's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor William Bonner's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more