Obituary of Alphonse George Bonadies

AIKEN, SC – Al Bonadies of Newberry Street in Aiken, died on January 14, 2021.

 

Alphonse George Bonadies was born on February 15, 1932 at home in Dobbs Ferry, NY, the youngest of the nine children of Giovanni Baptiste (John) Bonadies and Arcangela Cavallo (Angelina) Bonadies.  He was graduated from Dobbs Ferry High School, went on to the Manhattan College of Engineering in New York City, into the Naval Reserve, then into active duty in the United States Air Force from July 1953 through February 1975, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  His stations as a transport pilot included Donaldson AFB, SC; Elmendorf AFB, AK; Travis AFB, CA; Hickam AFB, HI; Da Nang AB, South Vietnam; and Andrews AFB, MD.  Holding a USAF Institute Technology Aeronautical Engineering degree, he worked after his service retirement another 22 years in his field on various Department of Defense contracts.  He also owned and operated a flight school, charter service, and fixed base operation at New Market, VA from 1978 to 1982, and was an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner in Virginia from 1979 through 1996.  After retiring to Aiken in 1997, he continued in his vocation of flight instruction for Carolina Aviation at Aiken Airport, most recently training student, private, instrument, and commercial pilots.  He greatly enjoyed flying his own 1946 J-3 Piper cub, named the “Louis B.” in honor of an older brother who was killed in action in the South Pacific at Iwo Jima during World War II.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Bonadies is survived by his wife Patricia, as well as by four sons (Gregory Alan of Flowery Branch, GA, Gary Nelson of Laurel, MD, Jeffrey Scot of Hertford, NC, and Jon Keith of Winter Garden, FL), and by daughter Robin Michele Batty of Lexington, KY, and by 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

 

Final arrangements are being made through the George Funeral Home in Aiken.  A military memorial service with full honors will be held at the Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where he will join in interment his first-born son Glen Anthony and, in everlasting life, his Savior Jesus Christ.