Bonner, Harold LaHue Jr.

Harold LaHue Bonner Jr. passed away Sept. 17, 2010, at the age 
of 86 of heart failure. The love of his life, Arvita, and his 
children surrounded him with love and comfort at the family 
home in Burlington, Wash. 

Harold was born and raised in Vernon, Texas. At age 18, he 
joined the Navy and served his country on the USS Chauncy 
during World War II. During this time, he learned his trade as an 
electrician which he continued as his main life work, owning his 
own company, Bonner Electric and becoming an electrical 
contractor.

While on a trip home to visit his family, Harold and Arvita met 
and married three months later in Vernon. On their 
honeymoon, they drove the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks to 
begin a new life and adventure and remained there for 35 
years. 

Harold attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks after an 
honorable discharge from the Navy with an eye toward farming 
and animal husbandry. He worked in the kitchen in his spare 
time and became an amazing baker, specializing in cakes, pies 
and breads. 

During this time, he built a small log cabin near the university 
and lived the life he loved in the wilderness of Alaska. He soon 
decided to choose electrical work as his life work and after a 
short time started his own business.

Harold loved the outdoor life and shared that dream with his 
family. He built a cabin on the Salcha River and the family 
shared many years of wonderful river trips and fresh grayling. A 
few years later, he added a cabin on Harding Lake to our 
adventures with additional happy memories of family and 
friends. 

In the late 1980s, Harold and Arvita retired and traveled around 
Washington, choosing the Skagit Valley area as their new home. 
Farming had always been in his family, and this area felt 
familiar and a good place to have his grandchildren visit and 
explore.

Harold had many hobbies, most included the outdoors. He 
loved to fish, hunt moose and Dall sheep, and drive his 
riverboats. He owned and worked a gold mine in Alaska and 
two farms in Texas across the years. Harold loved to fly and 
had several small airplanes kept near the family home on 
Farmers Loop with a landing strip. Another hobby was building 
homes; he constructed eight during the years. He was the 
original "able to do it all man," and he did a perfect job at 
whatever he put his efforts to.

Harold was a wonderful husband and father, and is survived by 
his beloved wife of 57 years, Arvita (Gordon) Bonner; daughters, 
Karen Ann (Leo), Julie Lynn (Frank); son, William Harold Sr. 
(Becky); his brother, Jimmy Lee Bonner and his children Craig, 
Doug, and LeeAnn; his grandchildren, Amanda Roxanne 
(Andrew), Jason William, Nicole Marie, Stephanie Ann, Bradley, 
Erik, William Harold Jr., Antonio and Samuel; great-
grandchildren, Connor Troy and Cara Marie; and numerous 
nieces and nephews.

Harold was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Bertha 
Beatrice (Smith) Wright (Nannie); Sidney Wright; and father, 
Harold L. Bonner Sr. of Vernon.

Harold was so very loved and respected by his family and close 
friends and will be missed beyond measure. Following Harold's 
wishes, a private service will be held at the family home.

Condolences can be mailed to: Karen Scarpelli, P.O. Box 2607, 
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 or Julie Shelton, P.O. Box 72438, 
Fairbanks, AK 99707.

Arrangements were entrusted to Hawthorne Funeral Home, 
Mount Vernon, Wash. 

Published in Daily News-Miner on September 21, 2010