Robert T. Bonnes

Robert T. Bonnes, age 92, of Alliance, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, at Danbury Senior Living. He was a proud WWII veteran.

He was born September 3, 1926, in Van Wert, Ohio, to Donald and Peg (Baxter) Atha.  He was later adopted by a step-father, Lee Bonnes, following his parents’ divorce. Bob was an only child, but instantly gained 4 sisters and brothers when he married into the large Henschen family of Alliance.

Bob graduated from Lakeview High School in Chicago, Illinois.  Following high school graduation in June of 1944, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy.  On August 8, 1944 he entered Great Lakes Naval Training Base, where he completed his training and was then sent to amphibious training camp in Camp Bradford, Virginia, where he then boarded the USS LST 665 in December, 1944.  He spent 18 months in the South Pacific.

Before going overseas, Bob met his wife, Lorena Henschen, of Alliance, Ohio, on a blind date while on leave and visiting his grandmother in Alliance. After his discharge from the Navy, Bob returned to Alliance and attended Mount Union College.  On November 12, 1947 Bob and Lorena were married, and in 1950 he graduated from Mount Union College.  In 1950 Bob and Lorena moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and later to Buckeye, Arizona.

Bob began a career in education in Buckeye, Arizona, as a 4th grade teacher and quickly moved into the position of Superintendent of the Buckeye Elementary School District until June, 1966. He then became an educational consultant in Phoenix and later an adjunct professor for Northern Arizona University prior to his retirement. Bob completed both his MA of Education (in 1955) and his Doctor of Education (in 1970) from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Bob was a born leader and civic-minded man.  He was Mayor of Buckeye from 1966-1972, a District Governor in the Arizona Lions Club, and a Lay Leader in his church.  He was an avid Purple Raider football fan and horse racing fan.  Bob loved to play golf and go dancing with Lorena. Bob and Lorena lived in Arizona for 63 years.  They moved back to Alliance in July of 2013, to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law, Lynne and Roy Clunk, and their family.

Survivors include Bob’s daughter, Lynne (Roy) Clunk; grandchildren Sara (Jason) Robertson of Columbus, Ohio, Laura (Matt) Testrake of Wooster, Ohio, and Amy (Chris) Geocaris of Chicago, Illinois; and five great-grandchildren, Will and Ellie Robertson, Luke and Lillian Testrake, and Vivian Geocaris; his brother-in-law, Warren Walker, of Louisville, Ky, (formerly of Alliance) who was married to Lorena’s twin sister, Luella; a cousin, Karen Groza, of Avon Lake, Ohio, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peg and Don Atha; wife, Lorena Bonnes; an aunt, Elinor Dimick; brothers-in-law, Charles and Wilbur Henschen; and sisters-in-law, Dorothea and Luella Henschen.

A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date in Arizona. Interment will be held at Fairmount Memorial Park in Alliance, Ohio.

The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the staffs at: Danbury Senior Living, Great Lakes Hospice, and the Moore Care staff for all the loving care extended to Bob and Lorena during the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Union Avenue United Methodist Church or the University of Mount Union M Club.

Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601. Friends may register online at www.ctcfuneral.com.