Lt. Colonel James "Jim" Joseph Bonin, Jr., USAF (Ret.), 76, of Pensacola, FL passed away Saturday, March 28, 2020.

A Louisiana native, Jim was born in New Orleans and grew up in New Iberia, LA. He worked at Paul's Flower Shop and Allain's Jewelry Store while in high school and college. These jobs were a real blessing to him as it paid for his college education and taught him many valuable lessons.

He loved all sports and was a fanatic fan of the LSU Tigers (he bled purple and gold) and was a loyal fan of the New Orleans Saints from the very beginning; win or lose. He also loved the Brooklyn/LA Dodgers since he was a little kid.

Jim was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout with three palms. He attended the National Jamboree in Valley Forge Pennsylvania in 1957 and Junior Leader Training at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron NM the following year. He also worked at the council Boy Scout camp as a counselor at Camp Thistlewaite for three years. He later became an explorer scout and Junior Assistant Scout Master. He also served as Base Scouting Liaison Officer while assigned to Mather AFB and worked with the boy scouts at Cokesbury UMC.

He attended New Iberia High School where he played football, basketball and ran track, graduating in 1962. He attended college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) receiving a degree in Business Administration and graduating with honors in 1968. He was on the Dean's Honor List, Honor Society of The College of Commerce and a member of the National Economics Honor Society, Omicron Delta Epsilon.

After completing college, he joined the US Air Force in June of 1968 and attended Officer Training School at Lackland AFB and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. After earning his navigator wings at Mather AFB, CA he was assigned to Minot AFB as a B-52 Navigator. He spent most of his career in the B-52 Stratofortress, bomber as a navigator/radar navigator/flight instructor/standardization/evaluator, academic instructor and wing staff member with over 2000 flying hours. He also had a tour of duty with Air Training Command as an instructor and flight commander and was selected to the ATC/RAF exchange program. He had two tours in Southeast Asia and was stationed in Guam and Thailand and flew over 100 combat missions in the B52 aircraft over Vietnam. He participated in air raids over Hanoi and Hai Phong, North Vietnam during the Linebacker II campaign that resulted in eventually freeing our POW's.

Jim later performed duties as, branch chief of simulators and Director of Academic Combat Crew Training, Castle AFB, CA, HQ Strategic Air Command Liaison Officer to Red Flag, Nellis AFB, NV, squadron commander and Asst. Director for Resource Management, McConnell AFB, KS. He retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. After serving for over 23 years on active duty. He was awarded many decorations for his service including, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals and two Commendation Medals.

After retiring from the military, Jim worked for Lowe's Home Improvement Center, Inc. for over 13 years as a garden center manager and human resources manager.

Throughout his life there were special people that took an interest in Jim and guided him down the right path. He made some wonderful friends along the way as well. He enjoyed going out to dinner with his loving wife, Lynette on their Friday night, date night. He really liked to spend his time, dining out, traveling, fishing, gardening and golfing with Lynette. In his spare time he volunteered at the local VA Clinic and at the church.

Jim often bragged about his Lynette's golf swing. She intimidated his golf buddies because she hit the ball right down the middle of the fairway. Jim did some of the yard work and did a few honey do's, mostly grocery shopping, cooking on the grill and on the weekends, cleaning floors and commodes. He was also the pool boy. He was never allowed to decorate or do the laundry!

He is preceded in death by his father, James J. Bonin and mother, Nolia David Bonin.

Survivors include his loving wife, Lynette Prosser Bonin; beautiful daughters, Michelle L. Buer (Steve) of Modesto, CA and Monique E. Bonin of Rocklin, CA; grandchildren, Alyssa, Ryan, Amanda, Juliette, Dylan and Brittany; sisters, Lois Ann "Sister" Blanchard of Jeanerette, LA and Lillian Ann "Bitsy" Workman of San Antonio, TX; brother, David Wayne "Butch" Bonin of New Iberia, LA.

Visitation will be held 11:00am until a Memorial Service to begin at 12:00noon, Thursday September 10, 2020 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gina Bryan officiating. Private family and invited guests graveside service will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, Jim loved plants and flowers but request any contributions be made to Cokesbury United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL, Waterfront Rescue Mission, or Bright Bridge Ministries.