Temple Lodge, No. 33
George Edward Bonner
(died 28 May 1968, aged 86)
The grave marker of Brother Henry Samuel Hollings in St. John the Baptist Anglican Church Cemetery, Cobble Hill. The GPS location of the grave is:
Here is a brief biographical sketch of Brother George Henry Bonner taken from the local newspaper reports of his death and funeral:
“COBBLE HILL WAS HIS HOBBY
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in St. John’s Anglican Church Cobble Hill for George Edward Booner, aged 86, who died May 28 in Victoria.
Born in Walthemstoy, Essex, England, Mr. Bonner came to Canada in 1902 to Brandon Manitoba and later to Grenfell, Sask., were he owned contracting business.
He returned to England where he was married and on returning to Canada completed contracting work in various towns before arriving in Victoria and soon after at Cobble Hill.
On 75 acres at Cobble Hill, Mr. Bonner soon began building a post office and stores as well as homes.
In 1914, a townsite was erected and families started moving into the area.
There were four trains a day, at that time, that kept two men employed.
Mr. Bonner began to plan for a school as the children became older.
Two lots were donated by a syndicate and he was soon school trustee and planning the building.
His intense interest in schools of the district and the welfare of children continued throughout his life and Mr. Bonner was a member of the school board for more than 40 years.
George Bonner Junior secondary school at Cobble Hill was named in his honour.
Mr. Bonner was fond of saying that “Cobble Hill was his main hobby”, and continued always to fight for the rights of the common man and to retain the rural atmosphere of Cobble Hill.
He started the Vancouver Island ratepayers Association and was several times the president.
His private enterprise other than his store, was the Cobble Hill water system that he built and maintained.
For more than 50 years, Mr. Bonner served on almost every rural organization.
He was a pioneer member of the Vancouver Island Regional Library; held office in the Island’s Board of Trade and Cobble Hill Chamber of Commerce; and a member of the 1935 B.C. educational survey on school taxes; organized baseball and basketball teams; was a member of the Farmers’ Institute and PTA and was associated with the health unit.
Mr. Bonner is survived by his sons Charles and Walter, Victoria; Ralph and Norman, Cobble Hill; his daughter, Connie, at home; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one sister in England.
Rev. Canon R.E.H. Howell officiated at the service, followed by interment in the churchyard cemetery. Sands Mortuary Ltd., Victoria was in charge of arrangements.”
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