William R. Bonta, Sr.

William Robert Bonta Sr. was born on March 2, 1920 to Ora Ellen and Clarence William Bonta in Mercer County Kentucky. He went home to be with the Lord and to be with his wife Stella who preceded him in death in 2005, his son George in 2005 and Matthew his grandchild in 1990, on January 29, 2013. Bill had a Brother, James Edward and a Sister, Ora Ann who preceded him in death.

He went to Burgin Elementary and Burgin High School. He married Stella Mae Spaulding on June 15, 1940 and their first son, George William, was born the next year. Stella passed away on March 21, 2005. He served in WWII and fought in the Pacific Theatre. He was a Master Sargent. When he came home he worked along with his father in the carpentry business. Bill is survived by three children. Daughter, Mona Duffy (Ed deceased), Son, Bill, Jr. (Myra) and Daughter, Debi Anderson (Tom) and Linda, George's wife. 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

He was a master carpenter and a plumber before moving to Orlando in 1953. He worked for Kelsey Construction until becoming the yard foreman for Pelican Lumber which later was purchased by Mills and Nebraska Lumber. He worked there until he retired at 62 but Stella was overwhelmed with him being home all the time and told him he needed something to fill his day with away from home. Sooooo! He went to work doing maintenance work at First Baptist of Pine Hills. He worked for a few years until he went back to work for Mills and Nebraska's door and trim division. He worked there and retired again but it didn't last long and he went back there to work. He worked there until he finally retired at 90.

He and Stella were charter members of Pine Hills Baptist Church and he attended there until 2007. He was very active in the youth division Sunday School for a long time as well as a Deacon, Trustee and active in the Adult Choir. In the early 60's, he and Stella along with Homer and Kathleen Creason started a Spanish Mission in the Sheeler Heights area, which continued thru the late 60's. This was sponsored by Pine Hills Baptist. Bill and Stella went on several trips to the Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina with the Jolly Christians from Pine Hills Baptist and traveled to Israel to visit the Holy Land. He became a member of Powers Drive Baptist Church in 2007.

After Stella died he learned to be domesticated or he had one of Debi's children help him out. He enjoyed doing search a word books, reading his Bible and watching Matlock, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and some of the older Television Shows. In 2011 he went to live at Lake Bennett Health Center and The Ball Club Choir from Powers Drive Baptist Church would come and sing and someone would come to his room and wheel him down to the dining area to listen.

He spoke fondly of the Nurses that took care of him and would make them smile when they came into his room. He has left great memories for all of his Family.