Phillip Sheridan Bonnette Sr.

Phillip Sheridan Bonnette, Sr.-affectionately known as Phil, Dad, Pop, or Pop-pop-passed away peacefully at home in Taneytown, Maryland, on April 18, 2025, at 12:30 a.m., after a period of declining health. He was 82.
Born on December 3, 1942, to Okey S. Bonnette and Ruth C. (Elliot) Strzelczyk, Phil was the second of five siblings and grew up in Maryland during an era that shaped his rugged independence and inventive spirit.
Though he left school early, he never stopped learning. Phil had a natural curiosity and a sharp mind. He loved reading, especially about the human body and medical science, and often surprised people with how much he knew.
Phil enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 17, 1962, and served until June 8, 1964. He was stationed aboard the USS Compass Island (EAG-153) during his final assignment. After his service, he worked as a certified scale mechanic for his father and later found his niche repairing bedding and sewing equipment. He eventually opened his own business, Bonnette's Bedding Equipment Repair, which he operated for over a decade. He was an inventor at heart-always improving tools, designing gadgets, or coming up with clever fixes that saved time and effort.
In their later years, Phil and his wife Joyce enjoyed running a small ceramics business together-an outlet for creativity and companionship that brought them joy in a quieter season of life.
Phil was known for being surprisingly tech-savvy for his age. He embraced smartphones, computers, and voice assistants, often troubleshooting or researching just for fun. He loved to cook and proudly called himself a "master chef," regularly experimenting with recipes. In his younger days, he enjoyed camping, crabbing, and fishing with Joyce and the children.
Phil's personality was a blend of grit, humor, and creativity. He was always cracking jokes-whether they landed or not-and took joy in trying to make others laugh. He was a flirt, often striking up playful conversations with waitresses or cashiers. He was also a poet. Each year, he penned Joyce a birthday poem-typically starting with "Roses are red "-and filled a shoebox with verses that were occasionally silly, sometimes profound, and uniquely his own. Much of his writing, like his humor, reflected a sharp wit and a deep sense of reflection beneath the surface.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 50 years, Joyce L. Bonnette, his parents, and his brother Paul Bonnette.
Phil is survived by daughter Debbie Bennett and her husband Brian, daughter Ruth Chavez and her husband, Gabriel, son Phillip S. Bonnette, Jr., and his wife Menta, with whom he resided during his final years; siblings: Carol Harrison, Norman Bonnette, and Ronnie Bonnette; grandchildren Brian Jr., Crystal, Andrew, Christie, Matthew, Melissa, Brandon, and Tyler; 15 great-grandchildren William, Madison, Camden, Bradley, Isabella, Serenity, Blake, Rory, Silas, Owen, Brynnlee, Meredith, Brey, Carter, and Maxwell.
Phil's life, like many, was a mixture of strengths and struggles. He was proud, fiercely independent, and often stubborn. Those closest to him experienced both his brilliance and his complexity. He will be remembered for his intelligence, inventive spirit, creative flair, strong will, and deep love for his family.
The family will welcome friends on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 6 to 8pm at Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Rd. Westminster. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 24th at 11am at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow in Meadow Branch Cemetery.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.prittsfuneralhome.com