OXFORD – Bernard Allan Boname, 77, of Bartow, Fla., formerly of Milton, Fla., passed away peacefully on July 25, 2012 after a 10-month battle with colorectal cancer, with his sons Michael and Andrew by his side.
He was born on Sept. 3, 1934, in Norwich, a son of the late Dr. Mat G. and Altha (McCord) Boname. The youngest of four children, he grew up in Oxford, graduating from Oxford Academy in 1952. Pursuing his love of the outdoors, Bernard attended SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University, and graduated in the class of 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry. After two years of active military service, Bernard joined the workforce working various jobs until moving to Florida in 1970. In 1972, he joined the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service as a Soil Conservationist in Milton, Fla. He later worked in Perry and Bonifay as a District Conservationist. In 1983, but returned to the Milton Field Office to again serve as Soil Conservationist, retiring there in December of 1999.
Bernard is survived by four children: Brenda (Jim) Mlodzinski of Vernon, Conn.; Michael Boname of Panama City Beach, Fla.; Michelle Boname of Bartow, Fla.; and Army Staff Sergeant Andrew (Tara) Boname of Grovetown, Ga.; and five grandchildren: Mickayla, Eryn and Cody Boname of Chipley, Fla.; Matthew Mlodzinski of Vernon, Conn.; and Ian Boname of Grovetown, Ga. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Boname of Rochester, two brothers and sisters-in-law, Peter (Janet) Boname of Charlottesville, Va., and Walter (Charlotte) Boname of Etters, Pa.; ex-wives Kathy Boname Tefft of South Plymouth, and Harriet Boname of Bartow, Fla., long-time friend Lillian Robertson and daughters Michelle Richmond and Dawn McFadden, their children Olivia, Tyler, Elise, Tucker and Arden, as well as several nieces and nephews.
An avid hunter, Bernard enjoyed spending weekends at local hunting camps and took yearly trips to his home state of New York for deer season, often accompanying his brother Walter in the sport. He also enjoyed fishing at the family cottage on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton. While in Florida, fishing became his favorite weekend activity, regularly taking his children along on both saltwater and freshwater day trips to his favorite local spots. Post retirement fun included weekend outings to Biloxi for tasty seafood buffets and taking a turn at the slots. He held team trophies for bowling and golf and enjoyed playing tennis. He got his sports fix by watching the NY Yankees and, even more enthusiastically, his Syracuse Orangemen basketball team.
Bernard attended St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Milton, Fla. for over 25 years, was a past member of the American Legion and contributed regularly to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and as a SUNY alumnus, often donated to the school’s forestry initiatives. He was a patron of Good Shepherd Hospice of Bartow, Florida and was lovingly cared for by daughter Michelle Boname and ex-wife Harriet Boname.
Friends may call on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main St., Oxford. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oxford. He will be laid to rest in the family plot in Riverview Cemetery.
Flowers or gifts for the family may be sent to the Behe Funeral Home, Oxford; memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society in his memory. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com.