Dorothy Anita“Neetsie” Bonham, of Largo, Florida, died at Woodside Hospice in Pinellas, Florida on May10, 2011 from congestive heart failure.
Anita, the daughter of oilman Allen Preston Berry Jr. and Dorothy Decker, was born in Tampico, Mexico, January 2, 1924. She attended Cazenovia Seminary in NY. Anita learned to fly in the 1940’s and got her pilot’s license when she was a teenager. She carried that daring spirit with her into adulthood.
Anita married Jarrell Cecil Bonham Jr., a petroleum explorer whose work took them and their family to adventures in Venezuela, Libya, Indonesia and many places in-between. During this time Anita learned Chinese brush painting. She was a modest yet accomplished artist. After Jarrell’s death in 1989 Anita continued to travel around the world on freighters. She loved the global community and thought of herself as a citizen of the world. She is survived by her four children: son Ben Bonham and his wife Jane, of Rock Hill, SC; son Dr. Christopher Bonham and his wife Leola, daughter Nancy Bonham-Alters, of Largo, FL and daughter Barbara Bonham and her husband Gerald Kleiner of Middletown, NY; seven grandchildren; Jennifer, Leslie, Matthew, Carey, Natasha, Kristen and Miles, and ten great-grandchildren; Cameron, Ethan, Madeline, Branch, Brooks, Preston, Anastasia, Sebastian, Vera and Sage. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Williamsen; cousin Toshi Seeger, nieces Penny Williams, Cody Bonham-Gredler, and nephew David Lord. She will be interred with Jarrell, her husband of 40 years, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Anita loved life and the people who shared it with her. She will be missed especially for her great sense of humor, and spirit of adventure. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Woodside Hospice 6774 102nd Ave Pinellas Park, FL 33782-2909
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