William “Bill” Bonner, passed away on May 12, 2026, at his home in Knoxville, Maryland. Bill was just shy of his 71st birthday.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, with whom he had been married for 26 years, and his daughters: Christy Rowland and her husband, Jim; and Caryn Seward Eckley, and her husband, Eric.

Additional family members who have also survived Bill are his older brother, John Bonner and his wife, Vickie: his sister-in-law, Carol Bonner, sister-in-law Liz Gilley, and her husband, Chris; and his dearest nephew, Mike Bonner and his wife, Doris. He is preceded in death by his oldest brother, Duke Bonner.

Bill was born on Mary 27, 1955 in Frederick, Maryland and was the youngest son of Hobert and Betty Bonner. His father was born in Davis, West Virginia, and his mother was from Cumberland, Maryland. Both parents instilled their love for family heritage and history unto their children. This love of heritage and history took Bill to Shepherd University where he studied and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music.

What was Bills instrument of choice? The trombone. He spent years playing with local groups and later even performed in “Big Band Style” concerts in Europe. The stories Bill could tell you about those days.

Later, Bill pursued a career as an Archivist for the Image Collection for National Geographic for 34 years. This career was a perfect fit for Bill and he LOVED his job. The inspiration he gathered from the photographs, and those he worked with was endless. He could view a photograph and see the captured story. Daily, he would speak of those very stories and how they touched him personally.

Bill will be buried in Cumberland, Maryland along the side of his parents and grandparents where the mountains are beautiful regardless of the time of year and where he can rest in eternal peace near his family.