William Emile (Bill) Bond, Sr. passed away peacefully on April 8, 2017 with his wife, Mary, by his side. Bill was born on September 17, 1922 in Pensacola, Florida, where he spent most of his life. Bill graduated from Pensacola High School in 1940. He proudly served his country in World War II flying 50 combat missions in a B-24 with five of those missions being over Ploesti, one of the most heavily fortified German targets. After being honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps, Bill went to work at the Naval Air Station, eventually rising to the top civilian position on the Naval Air Station, the Consolidated Civilian Personnel Officer. He was a tireless and unselfish civic volunteer, including serving as a Boy Scout leader, Pee Wee football coach and Little League baseball coach. Bill was an avid fisherman and hunter, hobbies which he enjoyed his entire life. Bill was predeceased by his parents, George Cameron Bond and Alice Roch Bond, and his sister, Catherine Tronu. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of 73 years; his children, Patricia Bond Broutin (Jean Marie), William E. Bond, Jr. (Lani), Charlotte Bond Northup (Larry), and Mary Bond Kohlmann; his grandchildren, Robert Russell McDaniel II, Mark Cameron McDaniel, William (Web) E. Bond Ill, Richard Watts Bond, Cameron Carter Northup, Charlotte Kohlmann Dales, Mary Leighton Kohlmann, Marshall Thomas Sims, Olivier Charles Albert Broutin, and Yannick Jean Marie Broutin; greatgrandchildren, Emile Poindexter Mancini Bond, Dabney Alice Bond, Wilder Roch Bond, Roswell Watts Bond, Cooper Bond McDaniel, Katherine Villar McDaniel, Parker Virginia McDaniel, Cameron Lee McDaniel, Kate Colette Broutin, Jack Douglas Broutin, Sophie Elizabeth Broutin, Olivier Charles Albert Broutin II and Maxine Jean Hendrick Broutin, along with many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

A visitation will be held at St. Paul's Church, 3131 Hyde Park Road, Pensacola, FL on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, followed by a Funeral Mass beginning at 1:00pm. There will be a private burial following the conclusion of the service.

The pallbearers are: Byron Blake, Chris Jones, Gene Laird, Artie McGraw, Sandy Sansing and Jody Skelton.

Honorary pall bearers are: All past and present members of the Burnt Corn Hunting Club and all of Bill's former Boy Scouts, football players and Little League baseball players.

The family would like to thank Bill's many caregivers over the years, especially the entire staff at Wesley Haven Assisted Living. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Arc Gateway, 3932 North 10th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32503, or to your favorite charity.

A more complete article about Bill's life will appear in a later edition of the Pensacola News Journal.