Bonorden

Henry Julius Bonorden, the youngest of seven children, was born April 5, 1938, in Port Lavaca to Ella and Arthur Bonorden.

He attended Port Lavaca schools and participated on the track and football teams, graduating as salutatorian and president of his class in 1956.

Mr. Bonorden attended Texas A&M University on a football scholarship under Coach Bear Bryant. He was also on the varsity track team at Texas A&M University in the shot put from 1958-60, earning TAMU track MVP in 1960.

Mr. Bonorden was a member of Alpha Omega and the Corp of Cadets. He graduated with a bachelor of science from TAMU in 1960.

After, he was in the Army reserves for eight years and was honorably discharged in 1968 as a first lieutenant.

On Sept. 1, 1961, he married Dorothy Ann “Dee” Edwards in Victoria. The same year he returned to Texas A&M to work on his Masters of Education.

Mr. Bonorden began his career in education at Bryan ISD in 1964. Four years later, he moved to Hearne as the Federal Programs Director. In 1972, he became principal of Hearne Junior High School until he moved to assistant superintendent in 1974, the same year he completed his PhD (totaling over 300 credit hours).

In 1975, he became superintendent of Hearne Schools, retiring 21 years later in 1996. After, he was interim superintendent in Snook, Buckholts and Bremond ISDs.

Mr. Bonorden was proud to say he never applied for a job, he was always asked to take a position.

He was a member of the Lions Club since 1970 and of Gause Methodist Church since 1968. He was a lifelong follower of Christ, known for his love of God and neighbor.

In November 2020, Mr. Bonorden retired after 22 years as a member of the Gause School Board.

He grew up in agriculture and was an avid rancher near Franklin and then Gause since the mid-1950s. He also enjoyed traveling; he visited all 50 states and South America in his lifetime.

Survivors are his daughters, Holly Michele (C. Craig Jentsch) of Gause and Gay Lynn (Travis Gray) of Lakeway; his grandchildren, Matthew (Chelsey), John and David (fiancée MacKenzie) Jentsch, Trenton and Halle Gray; his great-grandchildren, Tyce, Everly and Titus Jentsch; step-grandchildren Travis, Trevor (Ali) and Molly (Jason Goodyear) Gray; step-great-grandchildren Ivy Gray, Chloe and Jameson Goodyear; two brothers, Gene Bonorden and Tom (Hallie) Bonorden of Gause; two sisters, Iris Lynn Patterson and Rosella Dermit of Port Lavaca; and a brother-in-law, Joel (Yvonne) Edwards of San Antonio; also, a host of nieces, nephews and extended family. Mr. Bonorden was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and a brother. Donations may be made to: Gause Cemetery Association, PO Box 426, Gause, TX 77857; Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX 75227; or Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607. Graveside services where held at Gause Cemetery on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.