Roy Lea Bonwell, 94, of rural Darlington passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at his home, gaining permanent citizenship in heaven.
Roy was born June 17, 1927, at Brookville, the son of the late Ralph and Buelah (Quinlan) Bonwell. He married Mary (Wools) Bonwell on April 22, 1948, celebrating 71 years together until Mary’s death at age 90 in 2019.
Roy and Mary started their home in Indianapolis, then moved to Franklin Indiana and in 1965 settled permanently in the Thorntown/Darlington area. Roy was the rock of his family, losing his mother at age 9, he was determined to create a steadfast and stable family life for his family. His gift to his family was they always knew there was a home to go to no matter what or how old one was. And he would always be there, calm, steadfast and solid. As parents they discussed their differences but never raised their voices to each other to set an example to their children.
Roy was a World War II veteran serving in the Navy at the age of 17 from July 1944 to June 1946. He was awarded the American Area Ribbon, Victory Ribbon and Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon. He returned home to Connersville, where he met Mary while she was visiting a pen pal.
He loved spending time with family and friends along with being a member of the Darlington Congregational Christian church, attending the men’s Bible study and the men’s church breakfast on Saturdays each month. He also enjoyed mission trips and he and Mary were able to travel on three trips with the Crawfordsville Assembly of God Church to build new churches in Quito, Ecuador, El Salvador and the Canary Islands. Roy also enjoyed camping, reading historical books on the Civil War and World War II and most of all teasing his grandchildren.
Roy began his working career as a teenager setting bowling pins and delivering family home grown watermelons to the local Kroger in Connersville. He then worked for Hayes Trucking in Indianapolis, then on to PR Mallorys as a security officer, a milkman for Wayne Dairy in Franklin, a supervisor at Stewart Warner in Lebanon, a farmhand for Schrier Farms for 25 years then at the age of 65 retired from the farm work and started working at Walmart in Crawfordsville for another 25 years. Finally retiring at age 90. Not to be late for work once, being a physically strong man, he lifted his Ford truck up to repair a flat tire!
Those left behind to carry on his legacy include: his children, William (Deb) Bonwell, Mary Isenhower, Rebecca (Richard) Slyker, Tim (Melanie) Bonwell, Kathy (Devon) Clawson and Mark (Tobie) Bonwell; 11 grandchildren, Roy (Michele) Isenhower, Joan Isenhower Irwin, Jennifer Isenhower, James (Penny) Isenhower, Christopher (Kaysha) Bonwell, Megan (Anthony) Fitzsimons, Oliva Bonwell, Caleb Bonwell, Kassidy Bonwell, Kim Bonwell (wife of the late Travis Bonwell) Ryanne (Mike) Hurley; eight step-grandchildren, Susan (Chris) Wynn, Kelly (Matt) Hatton, Brad (Tammy) Polston, Peyton, Ricky, Austin and Sydnie Ball and Alex Dagley; and 16 great-grandchildren, Nick and Devin Isenhower, Brittany and Jarrod Irwin, Tyler and Brandon Isenhower, Ethan Garrett, Mason, Ada, Nora and Owen Bonwell, Kaylise Hurley, Finn Hatton, Braxton Bonwell and Hayden and Reilly Ball with an additional great grandchild to arrive in April 2022.
Also preceding Roy in death are brothers, William and Charles Bonwell; sister Annella Kunkel Logan; grandson Travis Bonwell; son-in-law Danny Isenhower; nephews Kevin Bonwell, David Bonwell and Michael Kunkel; and niece Louise Bonwell Baker.
Family and friends will gather 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 for visitation in the Darlington Congregational Christian Church, 101 Academy St., Darlington. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1 at the church, with Pastor Seth Stultz officiating. Roy will be laid to rest at the Washington Park North Cemetery, Indianapolis.
Final care of Roy has been entrusted to the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, Lebanon. You are invited to visit the website where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message www.strawmyerdrury.com.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in memory of Roy to the Darlington Congregational Christian Church men’s fund.
