John C. Bonning, 89, of Waldoboro, died peacefully on Dec. 12 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta.
John was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on Jan. 12, 1921 to John Chester Bonning Sr. and Marion Smith Bonning. He was raised in suburban Kenmore, N.Y. He attended the Art Institute of Buffalo during the summers of 1936-1940. After completing high school, he was employed at Curtis-Wright and Bell Aircraft Corporations. He entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to the artillery; later, he was reassigned to the Army Air Corps as armorer/gunner.
After an honorable discharge in 1945, he enrolled at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit, Mich. where he met Margaret Ann Doelker. They married in 1948. He attended the post-graduate school, Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Leaving academia, he apprenticed with several studios in the Detroit area before becoming an illustrator and layout man for Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and the Burroughs Corporation.
In his “free” time, John painted and exhibited in Birmingham, Mich., where he, his wife, Margaret, and their four daughters were living. The persuasions of an east coast visit to former Detroit artist, Ken Gore, then living in Gloucester, Mass., provided the inspiration for John’s move to Maine in 1969. His boyhood idols, Frederick Waugh and Winslow Homer, left lasting impressions as evidenced in his paintings which are owned by collectors from Canada to points south and west. John and Margaret made their home in Waldoboro where he had his gallery and studio.
He was predeceased by his sister, Marilyn McCartney.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Bonning of Waldoboro; daughters, Jennifer Ruddy and husband Jim of Rockport, Suzanne Bradley and husband Robert of Bristol, Melissa Bonning and husband Lincoln Clapp of Belfast and Aimee Pearson and husband Scott of Jefferson; sister, Lucetta Aschbacher of Williamsville, N.Y.; grandchildren, Jamie Ruddy of Commerce, Mich., Sarah Jillian Bonning Ruddy of Rockport, Ross Bradley of Bristol, Lauren Bradley of Nobleboro, Julia Clapp of Belfast and Mackenzie Clapp of Belfast; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and a nephew.
Service to honor and celebrate John’s life 11 a.m., Wed., Dec. 15 at the Broad Bay Congregational Church on Main Street in Waldoboro. Rev. Nancy Duncan will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillside Cemetery in Bremen.
Should friends desire, donations in John’s memory may be made to the Waldoboro Garden Club, 24 Old Route One, Waldoboro, ME 04572 or Miles Home Health Hospice, c/o Miles Development Office, 35 Miles St., Damariscotta, ME 04543.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the Bonning family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.