Ellis Jean "Bonzo" vonHaven Jr.

1929 - 2011

Lt. Col. Ellis Jean vonHaven Jr. (Bonzo), U.S. Air Force (Ret.), made his final flight on March 2, 2011.
Bonzo was born in Parsons, W.Va., on Jan. 12, 1929, to Ellis Jean vonHaven Sr. and Virginia Wagner, who preceded him in death.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 19 years, Delores Cain vonHaven of Niceville, Fla.; daughter, Bliss Harper and husband Paul, granddaughter Katie and grandson Andrew of Dudley, N.C.; son, Ellis J. vonHaven III (Hap) and wife Carla, and granddaughters Haley, Carly and Aly of Pensacola, Fla.; daughter, Dr. Robin vonHaven and husband Dan Bradley of Dixie, Wash.; son, Christian (Chris) vonHaven and wife Cookie, and granddaughters Alexandria (Lexie) and Gabriella (Brie) of Houston; stepdaughter, Cassandra Day, step-grandson Dalton Huckaby and step-granddaughter Amelia Day of Columbus, Ga.; stepson, Josh Day of Destin, Fla.; stepdaughter, Tahnee and husband David Mitchell of Valdosta, Ga.; and ex-wife, Shirley Black vonHaven.
Bonzo rose from Danish ancestry and became a man of many talents. He graduated from Staunton Military School, attended Davis and Elkins College, W.Va., the University of Hawaii and Chaminade University in Hawaii, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He also graduated from the Air War College in 1968. He was an officer in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years and retired in Special Operations at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in 1979, flying the Spectre gunships. He was one of the founding members of the Daedalians Gulf Flight Chapter. He served his country in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He delivered the first C-130 Hercules (The First Lady) to the Air Force in 1955 and spent the majority of his career flying the C-130 aircraft, along with a multitude of fixed-wing aircraft, amassing more than 33,000 hours of flying time. He was an exchange pilot with the Royal Air Force from 1962-65, flying the Beverly aircraft. In 1973, he was personally selected to participate in the Operation Homecoming mission to bring home the first POWs back home from Hanoi.
His dedication to duty, mission and his personal accomplishments were recognized by his prestigious military awards and commendations to include: the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Crosses with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was the first pilot to receive the Lockheed Martin Hercules 20,000 hour award in 1992.
He flew for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Southern Air Transport and Transafrik International, as Aircraft Commander and Chief Pilot. His last flying mission was in 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria. He spent seven years flying in Africa in Angola, Luanda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and Kenya in support of the United Nations World Food Program.
His professional leadership and expertise in the air are legendary among those who flew with him. He was an aviator extraordinaire who broke the surly bonds of the earth. He was a man of intense integrity and patriotism. His ability to tell a story and his sense of humor were hallmarks of his character and career. He leaves behind a legacy of pride, honor and integrity to his family and a horde of devoted friends who will sorely miss his camaraderie, compassion and wit. Those who had the opportunity to fly with him will always remember his famous words, "You ate yesterday, slept the day before, what more do you want, now give me my pipe, let's go fly." Bonzo, your mission is complete here on earth.
A memorial service will be held inside the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base on Saturday, March 5, at noon. Donations can be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation in his honor.
Heritage Gardens Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.