George Peter Bond

Captain, USMC (retired)

Nov 4, 1931- Dec 6, 2014

Dad passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning from natural causes in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Dad was married to our Mom, Carol, for 49 years, passing only 27 days shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. Born in New York City in 1931 to Francis and Charlotte (Gilchrist) Bond, Dad entered Iona College in 1949 but decided it was better to serve his country in time of need. Dad enlisted in the Marine Corps 2 months after the start of the Korean War in 1950. In 3 years he attained the rank of Sergeant. Soon thereafter Dad served two combat tours in Vietnam (‘66-‘67 & ‘69-‘70) receiving a battlefield commission to 2nd Lt. Dad was fluent in both French and Vietnamese, serving as a military advisor to the South Vietnamese during his second tour. Upon the conclusion of the war, Dad was reverted to Warrant Officer and retired after 27 years of service as a Marine Captain. After retirement, Dad dabbled in Real Estate but found his true calling as the first Branch Librarian for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library (Spotsylvania Branch). He loved his job; he introduced Children’s Story Time where he read kids’ books to his young patrons playing in character for the various roles illustrated in the books. He was always willing to go the extra mile to help his customers. Many of those same children to whom he read now have children of their own and would always pass along nice words to our Father when they ran into each other in town. Dad was an avid reader plowing through books on a weekly basis. Although a hardened combat veteran and highly decorated Marine, Dad also had an affinity for acting, performing Shakespearian plays at the Folgers Theater in Washington, DC and was even hired to conduct readings for radio programs due to his peculiarly timber voice and clear enunciation and command of the English Language. While earning one of his Master’s Degrees in English Literature, Dad researched and wrote extensively on the life of Queen Elizabeth I, earning, but not accepting a scholarship to attend Oxford University in England. Because of this seemingly love affair with British literature and the Elizabethan Age, Dad kept most of his family wondering if he himself was reincarnated from the 1500’s. Albeit born in the Bronx, he had a fondness with the leadership prowess, war fighting capabilities and deep rooted Christian values illustrated by both General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Dad served as President of the Fredericksburg Civil War Round Table for several years and was a member of that same club until his passing. He also participated in in the Spotsylvania Historical Preservation Foundation. After serving in the Marine Corps, Dad went back to college earning a Bachelor and three Maters Degrees. He always taught us that you went to college not to get a job afterwards but simply to be exposed and educated to outside events, functions, and the world so that when you had conversations with people from your community or around the world, you could communicate effectively and have a better appreciation for their cultures and values. Dad was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Charlotte, his 3 bothers, Frank, Eddie and Richard and is survived by his loving and reliable wife, our wonderful mother, Carol, his sons George Geoff, and Greg, his pride and joy, his daughter, our sweet sister, Caroline and his 5 grandchildren, Sara, Molly, Emily, Steven, and Michael. A mass will be held at 1100 on December 15th at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Spotsylvania, Virginia followed immediately by a Military Burial service with full honors at Quantico National Cemetery at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, Dad would want donations to be attributed to the Spotsylvania Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. The ever important memories created by and with our Father will live on with us forever and will guide us through the remainder of our lives as our angel. As written in the last verse of the Marines’ Hymn, Dad will not only be guarding us here on earth but also those already in heaven…. “Ever look on Heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines”. Semper Fidelis.

The family will receive friends on Sunday December 14, 2014 from 6-8 pm at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service Fredericksburg Chapel 1621 Jefferson Davis Hwy. a mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday December 15 at 10:30am at St. Mathew Catholic Church 8200 Robert E. Lee Dr. Spotsylvania, Va. an interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com