J. Bon Hartline

Mr. J. Bon Hartline, 94, of Anna, died at 1:50 A.M., Saturday, May 26, 2012 at his home. He was born March 22, 1918 in Anna the son of Willis A. and Ada Frances Bouton Hartline. He married Ferry D. Hinkle on August 30, 1941 in Anna; she preceded him in death on October 1, 2002.Bon is survived by one son, Dr. Bon B. Hartline (Beth) of Boise, ID; one daughter, Mary Alice Hartline of Murphysboro and her companion, Bob Shoemaker of Anna; his special companion, Jan Lerner of Carbondale; 2 grandchildren, Meredith Ordonez (Gelber) of Brooklyn, NY; and Kristin Basse of Dallas, TX; a sister-in-law, Mary Coleman of Anna; nieces and nephews, Alice Ann Waite (Gale), Michael Harris (Anne), Peter Harris (Sue), Ted Womick (Tanya), Betsy Stewart (Evan), Vickie Whiting (Ted), and Melinda Coleman; caretaker and friend, Dianne Chaffin of Jonesboro; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ferry; siblings, Frank "Bass" Hartline, Harvey Bouton Hartline, Alice Alden Harris, Winifred Inez Womick, and Willis A. Hartline, Jr.Bon graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1936 and later attended and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He purchased the George Bacon Fruit Farm in 1955 with his brother Bass which later Bon owned and operated as Hartline Fruit Farm and Holly Nursery in Anna. Bon's hobbies and interests included building and flying his own planes. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), he was a licensed pilot and built 9 of his own planes. Skydiving was another hobby of his; he celebrated his 85th and 90th birthdays by tandem parachuting. He also enjoyed snow skiing, creating stained glass windows, and traveling extensively both domestically and internationally in conjunction with his horticultural interests.Bon was a member of the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School Board of Education from 1960 to 1975; and the Board of Governors of Illinois State Colleges and Universities from 1963 to 1969. He belonged to the Alpha Gamma Rho Agricultural Fraternity in 1937; he also belonged to the American Rhododendron Society, American Magnolia Society, Azalea Society of America, and Illinois State Horticultural Society, where in 1998 he received the Hall of Fame Award for distinguished service to the fruit industry. He was also member of The Holly Society of America of which he was a Life Member/President from 1980 - 1981 and in 1998 he received the C.R. Wolf Award for outstanding contributions and dedicated service in the field of Holly; the Society's highest award. He was a member of the Great Rivers Chapter of the Holly Society of America of which in 1966 he was a Founding Member/ President. In 1991 he received the Joseph C. McDaniel Award for outstanding contributions and dedicated service to the Great Rivers Chapter. Bon planted nearly 200 varieties of holly on his property; 7 or 8 he discovered himself. He identified, hybridized, and registered new cultivars of holly and magnolia. He also contributed hollies to a variety of arboretums across America.Along with all of those great achievements, Bon was the Official Weather Observer from 1945-1995 in the Union County area. He was also the Official Weather Observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1945 - 1995. He received the Edward H. Stroll Award for serving 50 or more years as a cooperative weather observer by the United States Department of Commerce. Funeral services for Mr. J. Bon Hartline will be at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with the Rev. Janis West officiating. Interment will be in the Anna Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 noon on Wednesday until the funeral hour at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Memorials may be made to TIP Hospice or the donor's choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.