Memorials › Benjamin Young "Ben" Bonner

Benjamin Young "Ben" Bonner

19 Feb 1913 – 7 May 1990

Birth19 Feb 1913
Death7 May 1990
CemeteryBonner Cemetery
Fairfield , Freestone County , Texas , USA
Added byMichael Edd Bonner on 17 Feb 2016
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16821851

Bio

Benjamin Young Bonner, eldest child of Paul Young Bonner and Lula May Willard, was born February 19, 1913 at Bonnerville. He was named for his grandfathers and was called Ben. Ben attended Burnett's Chapel School. Ben had lots of jobs after leaving the farm and moving to Fairfield to live with Grandma Bonner and Auntie and attend school. After school jobs included working for Uncle Joel and at various filling stations. During Prohibition, Ben got into driving specially-designed whiskey-lined cars from the Young Community in Freestone County to Dallas and Fort Worth. The special car had super heavy shocks so the car would not "sit down low" when it was loaded with whiskey. Whiskey was cheap to make with most of the cost in taxes so there was a lot of money to be made. He worked to build a pipeline from Keechi Creek to a pump station on the Trinity River and then worked as a roustabout at that station. He thought he was in Heaven when he was paid fifty cents an hour. He worked for the highway department and delivered ice for Uncle John Manahan. In 1938, Ben went to work for Wirt Wood at Wood's (later Awalt) Drug Store in Fairfield and retired from that job in 1974. He married his soul mate, Zona Mae McBride, on September 19, 1937 at First Baptist Church in Fairfield; Rev. Homer Tirey performed the ceremony. They honeymooned in Monterrey, Mexico. Ben's and Mae's first home was a garage apartment in Tom's and Laura's back yard. Ben and Mae had no children but loved every child in town; most children called him "Uncle Ben." For many years they made their home on N. Fairway in Fairfield. In later years they built a new house on Sunset Street in Fairfield. A cattleman, Ben began to specialize in Charlois; he and Mae saw their cows every day. He was a member of Fairfield Lodge No. 103, A.F.&A.M. and served as Master in 1946. After his death on May 7, 1990 in Corsicana, Ben was laid to rest beside Mae. Ben was a large man with a heart as big as he was. He was always ready, willing, and able to help anyone with any problems. In sickness or death, Ben was there to help. ========================================================= The Teague Chronicle - Thursday, 17 May 1990 edition, Page 4 "Funeral Services Held for Ben Bonner in Fairfield Funeral services for Ben Bonner, 77, of Fairfield, were held on May 10,1990 at 3 PM in Capps Chapel. Rev. Bill Thomas officiated the services. Sarah Childs performed the special music, "Because He Lives" and "How Great Thou Art" at the services. Interment was a Bonner Cemetery in Freestone County. Mr. Bonner was born on February 19, 1913 in Freestone County and passed away May 8, 1990 in Navarro Regional Hospital in Corsicana. He was a salesclerk of a drug store, a member or the Fairfield Masonic Lodge #103 and a retired fireman for Fairfield Volunteer Fire Dept. Mr. Bonner is survived by his sister, Mrs. Pauline Lambert of Fairfield; two brothers, Carl Bonner and Travis Bonner both of Fairfield; nieces and nephews, Homer Paul Bonner of Streetman, Gary Lambert of Lancaster, James Travis Bonner and Elizabeth Barns both of Fairfield, Janette Heath of Huntsville, Utah, Carla Bonner of The Colony, Texas and Susan Kennard of Tatum, Texas. Pallbearers were Warren Awalt, Jack Davis Fischer, Marvin Lee Watson, John Journey, Jody Bonner and Wilson Bonner. Capps Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." ========================================================= The Fairfield Recorder - Thursday, 17 May 1990 edition, Page 4B "Ben Bonner Funeral services were held last week for Ben Bonner, 77, of Fairfield who died Tuesday, May 8, 1990 in Navarro Regional Hospital in Corsicana. Mr. Bonner was born on February 19, 1913 in Freestone County and worked as a sales clerk of a drug store. He was a member or the Fairfield Masonic Lodge #103 and served as a member of Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department. Services were conducted at 3 PM, Thursday, May 10, 1990 at in Capps Memorial Chapel with Dr. Bill Thomas officiating. Special music, "Because He Lives" and "How Great Thou Art", was provided by Sarah Childs. Burial was at Bonner Cemetery in Freestone County. Pallbearers were Warren Awalt, Jack Davis Fischer, Marvin Lee Watson, John Journey, Jody Bonner and Wilson Bonner. Mr. Bonner is survived by his sister, Mrs. Pauline Lambert of Fairfield; two brothers, Carl Bonner and Travis Bonner both of Fairfield; three nephews, Homer Paul Bonner of Streetman, Gary Lambert of Lancaster, and James Travis Bonner of Fairfield; and four nieces, Elizabeth Barns both of Fairfield, Janette Heath of Huntsville, Utah, Carla Bonner of The Colony and Susan Kennard of Tatum. Arrangements was made by Capps Memorial Chapel of Fairfield."

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