Pastor Charles L. Bonds, age 94, of Scottsbluff, NE, departed into the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Western Nebraska Veterans Home.
Charles was born October 1,1928 in Grand Cane, Louisiana to Albert Jordan Bonds & Mattye McLeish Bonds. He graduated high school in Mansfield, LA in 1945. Shortly after graduating he worked for the Gulf Oil Company in Houston, TX and then entered the United States Army, serving during 1947 and 1948. On December 12, 1948, Charles received Christ as his Savior. He attended Dallas Bible College, graduating in 1953. While in college, he met his wonderful, precious wife, Martha Grace Thompson from Harrisburg, NE. They married on July 6, 1952 at the Harrisburg Community Church, where a few years later they would begin their pastoral ministry in the Nebraska panhandle, spanning 50 years. During those years, he earned his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. Charles served as pastor in the Harrisburg Community Church as well as being the founding pastor of the Dix Bible Church, Calvary Memorial Church, and Kimball Evangelical Free Church.
Charles is survived by his children: Stephen (Terry) Bonds of Scottsbluff, NE; Philip (Colleen) of Casa Grande, AZ; Carolyn (Geary) Goldsmith of Ft. Worth, TX; Cheryl (Rick) of Lakewood, CO; son-in-law, Gary Miller (Donella) of Aledo, TX; grandchildren: Heather (Jon) Hauschild of Scottsbluff, NE; Bert (Sarah) Ballard of Centennial, CO; Dustin (Emily) of Arvada, CO; Ashley Costner of Lakewood, CO; Marissa (Justin) Hernandez of Joshua, TX; Mikaylah Goodwin of Aledo, TX; Ty Costner of Lakewood, CO; Great-grandchildren: Carson and Cadence Hauschild of Scottsbluff, NE; Adria, Kyla and Jayden Ballard of Centennial, CO; Logan and Asher Hernandez of Joshua, TX; Adeline Costner of Arvada, CO; and AryAnnah and Aliyah Goodwin of Aledo, TX; many nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Marvin (Barbara) Thompson of Harrisburg, NE; and sister-in-law, Eliza Thompson of Santa Cruz, NM.
Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; daughter, Charlene Miller; parents Albert & Mattye (McLeish) Bonds; three brothers, Albert Jr., Robert, and William; sisters, Emily McCully and Janie Bonds Griffith; father-in-law, Robert Thompson; mother-in-law, Edith Thompson; brothers-in-law, Robert Thompson and William Thompson; sister-in-law, Pat Thompson; and great-grandson, Aiden Costner.
Charles resided at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff for the last 6 ½ years.
A visitation will be held at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Home Friday, December 2, 2022 from 3:00-6:00pm. A memorial service at Calvary Memorial Church in Gering, NE will be Saturday, December 3, at 1:30pm with Pastor Gary Hashley officiating. The service will be livestreamed and recorded on YouTube at Calvary Gering. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary Memorial Church or Western Nebraska Veterans Home in memory of Charles L. Bonds. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com for the Bonds family.