Floyd Thomas Bonner passed from this life on Monday, June 11, 2018, at age 85. He began life as Tom, on a rural farm in Lawrence Co, TN, one of 11 children. He did chores and fished and got into mischief with his siblings and a multitude of cousins and friends. He played football for Lawrence Co High School and graduated from there in 1952. Following graduation, he moved and joined several of his siblings in Wyandotte, Michigan, to find a job. Uncle Sam had other plans; you’re in the army now, Mr. Bonner. Tom became Floyd and served 2 years at Ft Hood during the Korean conflict. When the war was over, he returned to Wyandotte where he began a career and met the love of his life. Because God moves in funny ways, he was blessed to meet and marry a Lawrence Co, TN girl in Michigan. They had their first son in Michigan and then returned to Tennessee, where Floyd began a lifelong career with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and where they added a son and, eventually, a daughter to their circle of love. Several Singer moves later, they purchased the Singer dealership in Tullahoma, TN, where he served the community as a business leader for 8 years. Floyd also owned a Singer dealership in Decatur, AL, and a party store in Tullahoma. He retired to grow his garden and love on his family in 2002.
Floyd Thomas leaves behind a legacy of hard work, joy in life, and, above all, love. He will be deeply and forever missed by his beautiful bride of 61 years, Elizabeth Annette Campbell Bonner, and his six children, Jeffrey Thomas & Cathie Christian Bonner of Birmingham, AL, Michael Anthony & Tina Lee Bonner of Tullahoma, TN, and Sharon Gaye & Robert Austell, of Eagleville TN. Fourteen grandchildren will be lost without their Grandaddy: Drew & Merrick Bonner of Atlanta, GA; Catherine & Nick Goudreau and Austin & Shelby Bonner, of Birmingham, AL; Ross & Julie Bonner of Salem, MA; Seth Bonner and Rachel Bonner of Tullahoma, TN; Andrew Austell, Connor Austell, Grant Austell, and Grace Austell of Eagleville, TN. He will be missed by 12 brothers and sisters: Art Dworkin, Beverly Bonner, Linda Gomer, Willie Mae Bonner, Ruth Nix, Barbara & Jimmy Smith, John & Rebecca Sharp, and Wayne and Charlie Bonner. He entered the Church Triumphant and was joyfully reunited with his parents, Willie Lake & Flora Bass Bonner; two sisters, Zella Bonner Dworkin and Bernie Bonner; six brothers, Grant Bonner, Klyce Bonner, Bill Bonner, Loye Bonner, Frank Nix, and infant Jerry Allen; and one beloved grandson, Michael D Bonner.
Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, June14, 2018 at Smith Chapel United Methodist Church in Lynchburg, TN, and 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Mars Hill United Methodist Church in Lawrenceburg, TN. Funeral services will be conducted at Mars Hill United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 16, 2018, with Rev. Sharon Austell, Rev. Jeffrey Bonner and Rev. Ray McDonald officiating. Interment will follow at Lawrence County Memorial Gardens in Lawrenceburg, TN with full military honors.
