Desmond Nikolas Bonnington Jr.

Desmond “Ted” Nikolas Bonnington, Jr., 89, passed away December 15, 2025, in Roseville, CA, surrounded by his family. Ted was born February 10, 1936, in San Francisco, CA, to Margaret (Holman) Bonnington and Desmond “Ted” Nikolas Bonnington, Sr. He is Survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Elaine (Gearhart) Bonnington, daughter Lorraine (Martin) Mickelsen, grandchildren Nikolas and Alison Mickelsen of Roseville, and sister Jane (Bonnington) Stevens. He was predeceased by his brother William Holman Bonnington. He was a fourth-generation Californian.

Ted graduated from Piedmont High School in 1954, where he met his future wife, and then attended Cal Poly San Louis Obispo for two years. He joined the United States Army in 1957 and was stationed in Germany. During his service he earned the Expert Carbine marksmanship award and worked as a mechanical engineer on the Redstone Missile. After his active service, he married the love of his life in 1960 and moved to the Sacramento area to start his career at Aerojet Solid Propulsion Co., designing and later managing the Polaris, Minuteman, and Peacekeeper missile programs. He retired in 1998 after 38 years.

As a resident of Fair Oaks for 59 years, Ted enjoyed working on and driving his classic automobile, a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster. He liked to attend concours and put on rallies with his fellow German car enthusiasts as a member of the Mercedes-Benz and BMW clubs. Ted was a life member of the NRA and founding member of the Folsom Shooting Club (formerly Orangevale Sportsman Club). In his retirement he was a docent at the California State Railroad Museum. As a descendant of the W. L. Holman Car Company, he shared his knowledge of railroad history with visitors.

At his request there will be no services, and his ashes will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA.

Remembrances may be made to the Western Railway Museum at wrm.org.