Earl Bonham

Rev. Earl T. Bonham departed this life October 7, 2011. He was a retired pastor in the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Bonham began his ministry as a lay preacher. After eighteen years he was ordained and appointed an elder. His service extended over 30 years with part-time and full-time pastorates in eight Central and Southern Indiana counties. Rev. Bonham was a Twenty Year Club member with L. S. Ayres and Company, where he was a personnel supervisor and worked in fine furniture sales and service. Following his retirement, he served four years as a part-time minister of visitation and as an interim pastor of several local churches. Rev. Bonham was a graduate of both Butler University and Christian Theological Seminary. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. During World War II he flew in the Army Air Corps as a B-29 armored tail-gunner in the west Pacific. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol Marie (May); daughters, Carol E. Bonham, Barbara Anne Carlson, Nancy L. Bonham, and Rebecca S. Manifold; and sons, Paul C. and Rex W. Bonham; and 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Rev. Bonham was preceded in death by his son, Mark L. Bonham. Services will be on Tuesday, October 11 at 11 AM at Broad Ripple United Methodist Church, with calling from 10 AM until service time. Visitation will be on Monday, October 10 from 4-8 PM at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center- Broad Ripple. Entombment will be at Washington Park North Cemetery, with military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Methodist Health Foundation. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan