Burlington, WV - Charles Alvin Bonar, 92, of Burlington, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 26, 2025, while under the care of Hospice at Hampshire Memorial Hospital in Romney.

Born October 4, 1932 at Fort Hill Farm in Burlington, WV, he was the son of the late Clyde and Cornelia (Harmison) Bonar. Beside his parents, Charles is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Patricia Ann Bonar, who passed away on March 9, 2024; his brother, James Sloan Bonar; and a sister, Mary Alice (Bonar) Hannah.

Charles is survived by his daughter, Vera Bonar Page and husband Howard of Burlington; his granddaughters, Margaret A. Page of Burlington and Sara P. Almond and husband Kevin of Missouri; his great granddaughters, Caroline and Karlyn; his nieces and nephews, Joe, Lynn, Sam, Sarah, Sloan, Kathy, and Lisa; his sister-in-law, Molly Bonar of Romney; and a brother-in-law, Thomas McCormick and wife Patty of Moorefield. He is also survived by his beloved exchange students and their families, Nicolas, Mario, and Jorge Hernandez Ynurreta-Mancera and Marco de Moura and his wife Valeria along with their two children, Pedro and Joao. Charles also leaves behind his fury feline, "Coal" and his grand dogs, Milo and Rex.

Charles graduated from Keyser High School in 1950 where he was class President. He attended Potomac State College and then obtained his BS degree in Agriculture Science from West Virginia University in 1954. Charles joined the US Army in March of 1955, serving in the Military Police as a Sharp Shooter at Ft. Hood, Texas. On November 25, 1955, in Cameron, W.Va., Charles married the love of his life, Patricia Ann (McCormick) Bonar.

Upon completing his military service, Charles and Pat returned to Burlington. Farming, Angus cattle, Packard cars, and working as a teacher and home school counselor at the WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind was his life work. His faith was a vital part of his life and he was an active member of the Burlington Presbyterian Church. Community service was another big part of Charles' life. He was a charter member of both the Burlington Ruritan Club and the Romney Rotary Club. He loved to sing at 4-H meetings, church, WVU, the Burlington Community Choir, and at the Hampshire Center. He sang in two quartets, one group consisting of Sloan Staggs, Preston Miller, and Roy Ludwick. In the mid 1960's Charles owned and operated Lyon's Mill in Williamsport, WV, selling Red Rose Feeds and doing business as Patterson Creek Feed and Cattle Co. Charles held and was awarded many accolades during his life. He was elected to serve on the Mineral County Commission, he served as a past President of the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department, he was past Zone Governor of Ruritan, he was honored to be the Honorary Parade Marshall at the 2022 Apple Harvest Parade, member of the Mineral County Library Board, and past President of the WV Angus Association. He was also a member of the WVU Livestock Judging Team and an Alpha Gamma Rho Brother and served as Noble Ruler. The love of history was also a special interest to Charles. As an 8th grader at Burlington Elementary School, he was knighted as a WV Golden Horseshoe recipient. He was the first President of the Mineral County Historical Society and he was a life member and past Commander of the McNeill's Rangers Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #582 and a Lewis and Clark reenactor with his wife and granddaughter. He and Pat were also honored as WV History Heroes in Charleston by the WV Division of Arts and Humanities.

A Celebration of Charles' Life will be held later this summer at the Burlington Union Church in Burlington, W.Va.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Charles' memory to: Burlington Union Church Food Pantry ~ c/o Ruth Upton ~ 3894 New Creek Highway ~ Keyser, W.Va. 26726 -or- Burlington Presbyterian Church ~ c/o ~ Peggy Leatherman ~ 903 Cornerstone Rd. ~ Purgitsville, WV 26852

The family would like to give a special Thank You! to Howard Boggs for being a devoted friend to Charles and Pat through the years and a heartfelt Thank You! to Shelby, Margie, Anita and her family, and Bonnie for the great care they provided Charles this past year.

Please direct inquiries to Shaffer Funeral Home, Romney 304.822.3511.