Mr. William “Billy” Russell Bonner, age 90, a resident of Edward, died Sunday, March 31, 2019, at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, for one hour beginning at 6 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 7 p.m. at Edward Christian Church. On Thursday, at 10 a.m. a brief committal will be held at Oakhaven Cemetery in Edward. Pallbearers will be Steve Carrow, Jimmie Walker, Frank Richards Jr., Patrick Baker, Carl Bonner and Doug Niethammer. The family will receive friends at other times at the home of Mr. Billy’s son, Don Bonner, located at 1240 Bonnerton Road.

Mr. Billy was born in Beaufort County on May 14, 1928, son of the late Earl Wayne Bonner, Sr. and the late Edna Hope Hardy Bonner. He was a 1945 graduate of Aurora High School and continued his education at Wake Forest University and University of North Carolina. On May 28, 1950, he married Dorothy Marie Bennett who survives. His working career included being a salesman for Thomas & Howard, owner & operator of Bonner’s Superette and PCS of Aurora where he retired in 1998.

Serving the Lord was of utmost importance in Mr. Billy’s life. To prepare himself to be a better missionary, he attended a Discipleship Training School with YWAM in Kona, Hawaii in 1992. Following this, he did mission work with YWAM in Vicente Guerrero, B.C., Mexico and Lausanne, Switzerland. He was a member of Edward Christian Church where he served as treasurer, a deacon and later as an elder. He was a faithful attender and was there when the door opened except in cases of illness. He and his wife helped organize the Senior Saints group at their church. They would meet once each month, and he would help prepare and cook the food.

Mr. Billy enjoyed doing craft work using plastic canvas and doing work with his John Deere tractor. It was especially rewarding to help keep the lawns at his church and fellowship hall in good shape. His favorite book was the Bible, which he read through each year since 1985. His favorite scripture was Isaiah 40:31 and his favorite songs were “How Great Thou Art” and “In the Garden.”

Surviving along with Mr. Billy’s wife, Dorothy, are two sons, Billy Bonner, Jr., of Chattanooga, Tennesee, and Don Bonner and his wife, Jeanne, of Edward; a sister, Loyce Moore, of New Bern; three grandchildren, Marina Bonner Gold and her husband, Jordan, of Blounts Creek, Sierra Bonner, of Edward, and Brett Bonner, of Knoxville, Tennessee; and one great-grandchild, Liam Gold. Mr. Billy was predeceased by his brother, Earl Bonner.

Flowers are welcome and appreciated, and the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions be made to Edward Christian Church, P.O. Box 67 Edward 27821.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve Mr. Billy’s family.