Paul Windsor Bonham, Jr.

Bonham, Paul Windsor, Jr., the Reverend Doctor (Capt., CEC USN, Ret.) in his 90th year, died at his home on December 4 2025 after a lengthy decline associated with complications from a fall.

Paul was born in Beckley, West Virginia, the youngest of three children and the only son of the late Col. Paul Windsor Bonham, Sr. and Edna Elizabeth Dunn Bonham. During his boyhood Paul's family moved around West Virginia, the USA and the world as his father's work dictated, first with the Army Corps of Engineers, and then later the U. S. Army. But a constant place of heart for Paul was the Dunn family farm in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia where he spent much time as a boy. It was there that he developed his lifelong passion for nature and the outdoor life and experienced early spiritual stirrings.

After graduation from the Stuttgart-Heidelberg American High School in Germany, Paul attended the Colorado School of Mines where he graduated with a degree in engineering and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. His Navy career began soon thereafter in the Civil Engineer Corps and provided postings around the country and world. Among those postings were two tours in country with the Marines in Vietnam where he headed a Sea Bee construction battalion during Tet. He later earned a Master of Science degree in management and finance from the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey. His final posting was at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. His service awards and citations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (with combat V), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (with combat V) and the Army Commendation Medal.

After 25 years in the Navy, Paul entered Union Theological Seminary in Richmond where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree and at graduation was recognized with the Preaching Award and as a Thompson Scholar. He went on to receive his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Seminary in Decatur.

Having a military pension allowed Paul to pursue a passion for ministry in small churches where he spent the entirety of his ministerial career. While serving an early pastorate in North Carolina (Little River Presbyterian, Hurdle Mills), Paul engaged in pursuits of Zen spirituality, tai chi, Rolfing, men's work, drumming, and walking on fire. It was during this time that he also began a serious study of the Enneagram, obtaining teaching certifications from two of its schools. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Enneagram Association and served as that organization's President for two years.

Following additional pastorates in Florida (First Presbyterian, Chipley) and South Carolina (Indiantown Presbyterian, Hemingway), he retired from active ministry and moved with his wife Pattie to her girlhood home, historic Belle Vue Plantation on the Appomattox River near Petersburg, VA. There he continued to serve in ministry with local interim pastorates and pulpit supply stints. Retirement also allowed him to engage in the country pursuits he so enjoyed with his dogs Puppy and Lucy, and to regularly visit nearby West Virginia.

Paul's father had made a practice of reading to him when he was a young boy, mostly short stories and poetry. This experience instilled in Paul a love of the spoken word and resulted later in life in compositions of his own in both story and poetic form. He was often invited to "tell" at local civic and religious gatherings, and created for recitation a lengthy abridgement of the Gospel of Luke.

Fearless in preaching and teaching, Paul offered supportive encouragement to all who were serious spiritual seekers. He regularly urged the small congregations he served to undertake demanding projects that otherwise might not have been contemplated, including the erection of a church education building and the construction of a Habitat for Humanity house.

Paul is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pattie) Lockwood Bonham; his sister, Rebecca Bonham Carr; three children from a previous marriage, Paul W. Bonham III, Denise Bonham Seal, and Philip W. Bonham; nine grandchildren and a great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Polly Bonham Saunders; and his former, wife Carol Rose Bonham.

Deep gratitude is expressed for the devoted care rendered by Suncrest Hospice and Senior Helpers.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church on December 13, 2025 at 12 pm with the Reverend Dr. Clay Macaulay and the Reverend Dr. Denise Hall officiating. A visitation and reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Southern Environmental Law Center (120 Garrett St. Suite 400, Charlottesville, VA 22902), Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church (P.O. Box 339, Colonial Heights, VA 23834) or a charity of choice.