Bernard Slonina

On December 1, 2012 Benny Slonina rejoined his parents, brothers, and friends from the Greatest Generation. He was born March 25, 1916 in Yonkers, NY and the family later settled in Middleport, PA. Benny joined the Army Air Corps February 1936 at Langley Field, VA. He was a member of the 40th Bomb Group. In the early years of WWII, they flew submarine patrol in Central America. In 1943, the Group came to Pratt, KS to make the B-29 combat-ready. While there he married Virginia McDaniel. In February 1944, the Group went to India where they flew the Hump (CBI) transporting bombs and fuel into China. They then went to Tinian until the end of the war. Benny remained in what was by then the U.S. Air Force. He then served in Korea and retired in 1958. He received many citations and medals, including the Bronze Star with 3 Oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal. In 1958, he went to NASA and worked in the Full-Scale Tunnel, retiring in 1972. He then worked at the Poquoson Elementary School until 1986. Benny was preceded in death by his great-granddaughter, Lillian Trippe. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia; daughters, Barbara Trippe and Mary Page; six grandchildren, Aaron Trippe and wife Kristen, Devin Trippe, Jeffrey and Christopher Steckroth, Wendy Shannon and Kayla Page; great-granddaughter, Marleigh Shannon; and brother, Louis Slonina of Pottsville, PA The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm, Monday, December 3, 2012 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held at Bethel Manor Chapel at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 4, followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the SPCA, 523 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23601 or The Alzheimer's Foundation, 6350 Center Drive, Suite 102, Norfolk, VA 23502. Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, VA 23666. Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.