Paul Windsor Bonham Jr.

1936 - 2025

Paul Windsor Bonham, Jr.

January 26, 1936 - December 4, 2025

Bonham, Paul Windsor, Jr., the Reverend Doctor (Capt., CEC USN, Ret.) in his 90th year, died at his home on December 4, 2025 after a lengthy decline associated with complications from a fall.

Paul was born in Beckley, WV, the youngest of three children and the only son of the late Col. Paul Windsor Bonham, Sr. and Edna Elizabeth Dunn Bonham. After graduation from the Stuttgart-Heidelberg American High School in Germany, Paul attended the Colorado School of Mines where he graduated with a degree in engineering and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. His Navy career spanned 25 years with worldwide postings. Among those postings were two tours in country with the Marines in Vietnam where he headed a Sea Bee construction battalion during Tet. He later earned a Master of Science degree in management and finance from the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey. His final posting was at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. His service awards and citations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (with combat V), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (with combat V) and the Army Commendation Medal.

After retiring from the Navy, Paul entered Union Theological Seminary in Richmond where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree and at graduation was recognized with the Preaching Award and as a Thompson Scholar. He went on to receive his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Seminary in Decatur. His twenty years in active ministry included pastorates in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

When Paul retired from active ministry, he moved with his wife to her girlhood home, historic Belle Vue Plantation on the Appomattox River near Petersburg, VA. There he continued to serve in ministry with local interim pastorates and pulpit supply stints.

Paul is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pattie) Lockwood Bonham; his sister, Rebecca Bonham Carr; three children from a previous marriage, Paul W. Bonham III, Denise Bonham Seal, and Philip W. Bonham; nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Polly Bonham Saunders; and his former wife ,Carol Rose Bonham.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church on December 13, 2025 at 12 p.m. with the Reverend Dr. Clay Macaulay and the Reverend Dr. Denise Hall officiating. A visitation and reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Southern Environmental Law Center, 120 Garrett St. Suite 400, Charlottesville, VA 22902, Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 339, Colonial Heights, VA 23834, or a charity of choice. Online condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.

J.T. Morriss & Son - Petersburg Chapel

103 S. Adams Street, Petersburg, VA 23803