Dennis was born on December 3, 1941 in Bastrop, Louisiana. He and his five siblings grew up on a rural cotton farm near the Bonne Idee Bayou. He often told stories of picking cotton and playing in the swamp with the alligators and snakes! After graduation from Bonita High School and upon the death of his mother, he moved to Buffalo, New York, closer to his older siblings. There he met his beloved wife, Diane, in the summer of 1963.
Months later he received his draft notice to the U.S. Army. Upon completion of basic training, he was sent to El Paso, Texas for further training on NIKE missiles, while Diane remained in New York. In August1964 the long distance lovebirds decided to make their dating relationship more permanent. Diane traveled to El Paso where they were married in a small chapel on the base. Dennis received orders to guard nuclear warheads on a mountain top over looking Anchorage, Alaska. Diane returned to Buffalo to await her new husband’s discharge; 19 months later he returned to begin their new life together. Throughout his life, Dennis liked to share stories about the beauty and splendor of the Alaskan high country, even if the climate was a little cold for this Louisiana man!
The following year, Diane and Dennis welcomed Diane’s younger brother David into their home. Their family continued to grow with the birth of Kelly (1969), Tracy (1970), and Greg (1977). In 1981 David married his high school sweetheart, Nancy. The following year, Dennis became a grandpa upon the birth of Dave and Nan’s daughter EJ.
In 1983, after working on the railroad for 22 years at Bethlehem Steel, Dennis and Diane decided it was time to move south; it was simply too cold for the southern man! Charlotte became their new home. For the next 18 years, Dennis worked at U.S. Food Service in the transportation department.
Dennis enjoyed traveling, dancing, cooking/grilling -- especially anything hot and spicy, gardening and working out at the gym. Most of all he enjoyed sharing stories and being with his family and friends. Dennis never met a stranger! The family became very involved in their local church; it was there they met their dear friends and surrogate family, Kathy, Adam, and Colleen Peter. Subsequent years, also joining the family were John, Rod, and Courtney through their respective marriage to Tracy, Kelly, and Greg.
The Bonéy family then exploded with the addition of 12 more grandchildren Megan (1986), Margaret (1992), Josh (1995), Sierra (2000), Emma (2001), Noah (2002), Alec (2002), Madison (2004), Wyatt (2006), William (2006), Lucy and Jayne (2009) and one more due in July.
Dennis was a blessing and light in the lives of many. His warm, caring, generous and outgoing personality, his sense of humor, and his abounding love for God, country, family and friends will be cherished by all fortunate enough to have known him.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in the Forum (4519 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28226). Memorial Service will follow in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made payable to Christ Lutheran Church in memory of Dennis E. Bonéy.
