Donald "Don" Bonner
April 5, 1930 - March 15, 2021
Obituary
Donald ‘Don’ Bonner, 90, was born on April 5, 1930 in Juneau, Alaska and died on March 15th, 2021 in Tacoma, Washington.
A lifelong athlete, Don excelled at several sports while attending Highline High School (class of ’48) including basketball, baseball and golf. After graduating from HHS, he attended Pacific Lutheran University, in Tacoma on a basketball scholarship. Don loved golf and learned to play at 12 years old while he worked as a caddy at a country club near his boyhood home in Boulevard Park. His love of golf continued until his health began to decline in recent years
While at PLU, he enlisted in the USAF and then in 1951, Don married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Hansen (HHS class ’49). After serving in the USAF and reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant, Don returned from his duty assignment in Ohio to attend the University of Washington on the GI Bill, where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering. After receiving his degree, Don was hired by Boeing as an engineer and worked his way into management. While with Boeing, he was sent to work on various Boeing projects in Ogden, Utah and Alamogordo, NM and his family joined him on these assignments. At one point Don and Virginia dabbled in racehorse ownership. After Don’s retirement from Boeing, Don and Virginia started traveling throughout the world. They passed this love of travel along to their children and grandchildren who are all seasoned travelers.
After Virginia died in 2012, Don met Aileen Murphy at Village Green Retirement Campus in Federal Way and married in 2014. Don and Aileen enjoyed traveling together to many destinations over the years, including Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, the eastern Mediterranean, Panama Canal, Victoria and Knights Island Inlet in BC, Canada and, Hawaii. Don loved to drive and he and Aileen took many road trips, within the US, they visited friends and family. They also visited Oklahoma City, OK, Port Townsend and Sequim, and attended the International balloon fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their final trip together, was a train trip to Yosemite and San Francisco.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia (2012), his parents, Robert D. (1986) and Lillian Aalto Bonner (2004), and sister, Pauline Beebe (2016). Don is survived by his wife, Aileen, and her family as well as Don and Virginia’s daughters, Karen Bonner (Jerry Stiteler) and Tracey Bailey (Dan); five grandchildren (Lindsey Bonner (John Desens), Derek (Laura) Bonner, Rebecca (Mark) DeKleine, Katie Bailey (Felipe Leite), and Christopher Bailey), and five great-grandchildren (Landon and Lee Desens, Celia Bonner; Thelma and Florence DeKleine).
We will remember Don for his keen intellect, his problem-solving abilities, his beautiful blue eyes, his quick and sharp wit, how he loved his family and friends wholeheartedly, his stubbornness, self-sufficiency, and independence, his role of being the devil’s advocate in any situation, and easy conversational style.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in his name to your favorite charity or organization.
Don’s inurnment will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery following a private, family-only military funeral. A Celebration of Life event will be held at some point in the near future when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted to allow us all to gather together safely.
Arrangements by Bonney Watson Washington Memorial Funeral Home, SeaTac.
We were the lucky ones having you in our lives, Dad. ❤️
Some of the best memories that I have of Dawn was when he was involved with mom and dad in racing at Longacres. I am so glad that Donna and Virginia were able to get involved in that and enjoy it as much as they did. We love you Don RIP
I only met Don a few times. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Spending time with you was always fun because of your great sense of humor and sociability. Luckily we saw each other in Colorado and Washington on occasion but it’s very unfortunate that I never was able to show you my part of the world. RIP, Don!
Don and I worked together at Boeing on several projects. He was a great team mate and was always very engaged while always bringing a happy attitude to the tasks at hand. In addition since we both lived in Twin Lakes and belonged to the country club, my wife and I socialized with Don and Virginia. We joined them at the race track when their horse(s) were running. Don said that he was more nervous watching his horse running than any athletic competition he had been in. They joined us on occasional cruises on our boat. We thoroughly enjoyed the time spent together. Don brought sunshine to the party and the world needs more people like him.
I met Don at Twin Lakes 30+ yrs ago and played golf with him on more than several occasions. We were on the Board of Trustees together as well. Being called a good guy is the highest compliment anyone can get. Don Bonner was a good guy.
I want the family to know what a true gentleman Don was at Boeing. I worked there right out of high school in the early 80’s. He took a bunch of us to lunch (supervisors and “secretaries”) to lunch for Secretary’s Day one time at Longacres. He was so incredibly kind and inclusive. I will always remember how he loved to talk about his family and how proud he was of everyone. I was so lucky to know him.