William Ross Bonner, of Pressley Road, Franklin NC, died on August 3, 2013. He was seventy five years old.
Bill was born in Greensboro NC, to Merle Dumont "Rabbit" Bonner and Blanche Baker Hanff Bonner, who preceded him in death. He was educated in High Point City schools and Woodberry Forest School of Orange, VA. Bill graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in English in 1960. He served in the US Army from 1960 to 1962 and afterwards worked for Oakdale Cotton Mills of Jamestown NC, for a short time as a salesman. He attended North Carolina State University and received a degree in fishery biology in 1968. Bill worked with the NC Wildlife Commission as District Biologist in western North Carolina. He was promoted to Special Studies Biologist for all of the trout waters in that area. He did a hydrology survey of the streams in the mountains, and published his study. Bill is also the author of numerous articles on fish biology in various state and national publications.
Bill was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish; he knew all the trails in the Nantahala Mountains and was an expert in using the compass. Bill always had a garden and orchard and enjoyed his produce.
Bill is survived by his sister, Blanche Bonner Stevens (Walker) and his brothers, John Hall Bonner (Debbie) and James Archibald Stuart Bonner (Louise), and by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
His family thanks Linda and Morgan McCane, of Franklin NC, for the love and care they have given him.
Memorials may be given to the NC Wildlife Endowment Fund, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, 1702 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699 or Trout Unlimited, PO Box 7400, Wooly Bugger, WV 25438.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com