Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Tribute To A Friend - John W. Bond

John Willard "Johnny" Bond, Sr.
(15 Jul 1932 - 18 November 2008)
Jacksonville, Florida

My husband lost a friend and the world lost a very good person yesterday. He and Johnny were long time co-workers at BellSouth (formerly known as Southern Bell). Johnny was a kind-hearted and generous man. He will be missed greatly by all that were priviledged to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Even though Johnny did not die suddenly, his demise was very quick. He was diagnosed with a form of melanoma (skin cancer) about a month ago, I think. He was placed in Hospice and now he's gone. All these phone men work outside most all their lives. IF any of you are outside a great deal, please cover up as much as possible and also point out any changes one notices on one's skin to a medical professional. You just never know when this cancer will strike.

Johnny believed in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, so that even though we say Good Bye in this life, we know we'll meet each other again in the next.

OBITUARY
The Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville, Florida
BOND > John W. Bond, Sr., went to be with The Lord on November 18, 2008.

John was born in Hagerstown, IN and came to Jacksonville, FL, serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the Fighter Squadron-171, NAS Jacksonville. He served form March 1951 through March 1955. John retired from Southern Bell in November 1987 with 32 years of service. He worked his way up through the ranks of repairman to Maintenance Supervisor to Quality Control supervisor on staff. He was a charter member of The Fellowship at Celebration Baptist Church. He loved God, his family, his church, and all people, young and old. They loved him in return. He will be deeply missed.

John leaves behind to cherish his memories, his wife of 28 beautiful years, Lila; daughter, Lynn Strickland (Hank) of Tampa, FL; sons, John Bond, Jr. (Pam) of Jacksonville, FL, Frank Bond (Liz) of Dallas, TX; and daughter Deeann Spears (Wayne) of Jacksonville, FL, their mother Dee Dee Royal; grandchildren, Mindee, Sara, and Harrison Strickland, Haley Bond, Kyle and Jeffrey Bond, Andee Spears; brothers, Phil Bond and Gayle Bond, both of Hagerstown, IN; sister, Debbie Taylor of Hendersonville, NC; nieces, Stefan Taylor, Cristella Bond, Jennifer Muschell, Debora Flemming, Kathy Flemming Carver; nephews, Jon Bond, Jeff Bond, Andy Bond, Kent Flemming, Eddie Gales; great niece, Karmon Bond; great nephews, Luke and Max Bond; and many supportive friends.

Family will receive friends TONIGHT, November 20, 2008 from 6-8:00 PM at Arlington Park Funeral Home, 6920 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, Florida. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM at The Fellowship @ Celebration Baptist Church, 13720 McCormick Road, Jacksonville, Florida. Interment will follow at Arlington Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that donations be made to The Fellowship @ Celebration Baptist Church, Children's Building Fund in his memory. Please Sign the Guestbook @ http://www.jacksonville.com/

Leave a virtual flower at the FindAGrave Memorial: John W. BOND, Sr.

The Final Flight

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call,
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I've found that peace at the end of the day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things too I will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.

Author: Unknown

God bless,

♥ ∞

9 comments:

  1. I like the poem, very nice tribute.

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  2. Ah, at last he got his heavenly promotion! Amen Brother in Christ!

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  3. Sparky, This is a very sweet and kind tribute! I am sorry for your loss of a good friend.

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  4. I'm sorry to hear about your man beast's friend, Sparky. Thank you for the reminder about covering up. It's so important.

    (((hugs)))

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  5. I came over from Pappy's blog where I noticed that you mentioned abandoned farms in Georgia. I've heard the same thing is happening in Illinois and Iowa which are in the U.S. bread basket belt. But in Ohio where my relatives still farm acres of corn and soybeans, there is big competition when a farm goes on the market and farm prices are out of sight.

    So I came by and I saw your nice tribute to your loss good friend. You have my sympathies. Even though we know that they have moved on to a bigger and better place we surely do miss our loss friends. Peace.

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  6. Johnny was a good man. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word to impart. Thank you everyone for your amatory. You are all so very generous and thoughtful to share loving words. The newspaper has posted his obituary today, thus, I will place it here after this post. God bless and much affection to you all.
    Sparky ♥ ∞

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  7. Beautiful tribute to a friend. Absent from us, but present with the Lord. We can rejoice in his testimony, and in knowing we will see him again. Pappy

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  8. Well said Pappy. I know we only cry for ourselves and for those left behind. Johnny is with Jesus. We should rejoice and be glad. His troubles are all over.
    God bless,
    Sparky ♥ ∞

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  9. {{Sparky}} Sending my condolences. What a beautiful tribute you wrote. Please know, he is in Heaven now, looking down on you and smiling. Sending you and his family lots of love and hugs. Blessings

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⭐ A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ~ Walter Winchell