Harry Bonte
Harry Bonte passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2014, at his home in Napa surrounded by his loving family.
Harry was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on Sept. 29, 1930, to Harry and Anna Moorehouse Bonte. Raised in Paterson, Harry graduated from Eastside High in 1948. In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served in the Mediterranean Theater, the Caribbean Theater and the Korean War as a Machine Gun Unit Leader and Staff Sergeant.
In 1953, Harry was chosen as one of an elite group of Marines to march in Dwight D. Eisenhower's inaugural parade. Harry earned the Korean Three Star Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal prior to his discharge with full military honors on Sept. 21, 1953.
In the summer of 1953, Harry met the love of his life, Nita Kilbourne, on the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. The couple fell deeply in love and were married just nine months later on April 11, 1954. Harry and Nita moved to Plainfield, New Jersey, where Nita taught physical education at Plainfield High School. Harry attended Newark College of Engineering, where he earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1957 under the GI Bill of Rights.
Prior to graduation, Harry was recruited by Chevron Oil Company (Standard Oil of California), and in the summer of 1957 the couple moved to Northern California with their newborn baby daughter, Lynn Carol. In 1958, the couple bought their first home in Concord, California, where son Brent Kenneth and daughter Kimberley Gene were born.
Harry's career with Chevron Oil Company took him all over the globe with various projects in the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. In 1969, he and Nita bought a home and some property in Napa, where in between his travels, Harry loved working on his property, taking his kids to horse shows and swim meets and tending to his wonderful group of rambunctious dogs.
In 1975, an opportunity arose to move the family to Saudi Arabia where Harry would serve as Senior Project Manager, on loan to Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), in development of an addition to the Ras Tanura oil refinery located on the Persian Gulf. Keeping their home in Napa, the family moved to Ras Tanura in 1976, where they spent the next eight years traveling the world and enjoying the Saudi beaches and lifestyle.
In 1994, after 35 years of service to Chevron Oil Company, Harry retired to his home in Napa. He spent the next 20-plus years enjoying his family, his condo on Maui, working around the ranch and tending to his animals. His favorite was Duchess, a beautiful golden lab, who predeceased him in 2009.
Harry , aka "Pop" and "Papa," is survived by Nita, his loving wife of 61 years; daughters Lynn Faga and Kim Ruiz (Benny); son Brent (Nanette); grandchildren Jaime Faga, Ashley Bonte Hood (Derek), Ryan Maroney, Michael Maroney, Kyle Bonte, Adrian Ruiz and Gabriel Ruiz; along with great-grandchildren Aleo Segura, Taliana Segura and Bentley Hood. Harry was predeceased by his son-in-law, Male Tino Faga, in January.
The family would like to thank his caregivers, Delphine Norman and Molly Tonga, and the many doctors and nurses at Kaiser Napa, Kaiser Vallejo, Queen of the Valley Medical Center and Napa Hospice for their loving care and dedication.
Services will be held at Tulocay Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m.
We love and miss you, Papa. Your legacy lives on in all who love you.
"When you are sorrowful look again into your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."