Bill J. Bonds Bill J. Bonds, age 78, died February 16, 2005, in Austin, Texas. He was born in Valley Mills, Texas, on May 14, 1926, to Laura Jeannette Burns and Keller Holmes Bonds. Bill graduated from Valley Mills High School where he was President of his class. After graduation he volunteered for the U.S. Navy. He served on the S.S. Matsonia in the armed guard transporting troops to the Pacific. In 1946, Bill entered Baylor University, graduating in 3 years with a BA degree - a major in sciences and a minor in education. He served as a pharmaceutical representative, then worked for Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, moving to Austin in 1953, where he was self employed as owner of the Toy Palace. In 1960, Bill was employed by the City of Austin and was the Purchasing Agent from 1964 to 1969. He then became the Purchasing Agent for the Austin Independent School District until his retirement in 1985. Bill was active in many organizations throughout his life. He was President of the Austin Municipal Federal Credit Union, President of Southern Purchasing Institute, President of the National Purchasing Institute, Chairman of the Board of the Austin Area Teachers Federal Credit Union and served on their board for 9 years. He served many years as Advisory Director of the Texas Credit Union League and presented seminars for over 20 years at the LBJ School of Public Affairs on purchasing. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Austin Association of Public School Administrators, and he was very active in his church St. Luke United Methodist Church, including serving as chairman of the board. After retirement, Bill continued giving to his community. He volunteered many years as an election judge, served on the Travis County Grand Jury, worked with the Texas Association of School Boards, and proctored many LSAT exams. He was especially committed to working for Austin Retired Teachers Association and Texas Retired Teachers Association serving as Treasurer of TRTA from 1992 - 1995. Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Louise Freeman Sublett Bonds and his daughter, Janet Bonds Somerville, grandsons Shay Cullen Bryant and wife Nikki, Jeffrey Bruce Bryant, Blake Christopher Newman, and granddaughter Melody Louise Somerville; daughter Barbara Sublett Bonds Thomas and husband Dennis, granddaughter Victoria Lauren Thomas; daughter Kay Sublett Harrell and husband Skip, of Bloomington, Ind., granddaughter Terry Lynn Harrell and Stan Rorick, his grandson Robert Gilson Harrell and wife Amber, of Indianapolis, Ind. Also surviving are his brother, Jake Bonds and wife Oleene, of Waco, Tex., his sister Christine Bonds, of Austin, Tex., and nephew John K. Simpson and wife Frances, of Tyler, Tex., and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Opal Bonds Simpson, nephew Gary Bonds, and niece Elaine Bonds. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 19, 2005, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas 78705. Interment will be at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, following the service. Family will receive friends at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Friday, February 18, 2005. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1306 West Lynn, Austin, Texas 78703. Bill Bonds was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, a caring friend and mentor too many throughout his life. We will miss his love and wisdom. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com

Published by Austin American-Statesman on Feb. 18, 2005.