Robert Mark Bonk, Sr. of Atlanta, GA passed away on Monday, October 27, 2014 after a long illness. He was born on January 17, 1926 in Schenectady, NY, the son of Joseph and Ida Bonk.
He served in the Navy's V-12 program, which was initiated in 1943 to develop college-educated officers for its operations during the World War II. He spent the first two years of this active-duty program at Union College in Schenectady and graduated from Brown University in 1948. Mr. Bonk remained in the Naval Reserve and was later recalled for service in 1952 during the Korean Crisis. He was discharged with the rank of lieutenant in 1954.
Following his graduation from Brown, Mr. Bonk joined the General Electric Co., located in Schenectady. Throughout his 30-year career with GE, Mr. Bonk rose through the ranks in the sales division, working in GE markets that included Jacksonville, FL, and Farmington, CT. Mr. Bonk worked on many of the company's significant efforts, including helping to supply the country's electrical equipment needs during the emerging space program at Cape Canaveral. He retired from GE in 1986.
Mr. Bonk was married to Mary Neal Gwaltney of Hiddenite, NC in 1951, who survives him. He is also survived by one son, Robert Mark Bonk, Jr. of Monrovia, CA, and his wife Elisa Bruley; and three daughters, Sara Bonk of Woodstock, GA; Laura Dalton of Reston, VA, and her husband David; Susan Kinder of Marietta, GA, and her husband Jeff; and two grandchildren, Robert Dalton of Landsdale, PA, and his wife Carolyn, and Jessica McIlwee of Hilton Head, SC, and her husband Bryan, and three great-grandchildren Robert, and Evie Dalton, and Ellie McIlwee. He also is survived by his sister, Viola Gugliuzza of Scotia, NY and her husband Tony; and two brothers, Casper Bonk and his wife Freda, and Larry Bonk and his wife Carol of Schenectady. NY.
Mr. Bonk was predeceased by his granddaughter Theresa Dalton.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30, 214 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm. at Linney's Grove Baptist Church, with the funeral service to begin at 2:00 pm. Rev. Cliff Gwaltney will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers are Dale McCurdy, Chris Millsaps, Phil Millsaps, Conrad Gwaltney, Conrad Millsaps, and Gary Millsaps. Military rights will be rendered by DAV Chapter 84.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Linney's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund @ 6160 Sulphur Springs Road, Hiddenite, NC 28636.
Condolences may be made at
www.alexfuneralsvc.com
Arrangements entrusted to Alexander Funeral & Cremation Service.