Tilden A. Bonin, Jr.

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2006, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville for Tilden Anthony Bonin, Jr., 71, who died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Belle Teche Nursing Home in New Iberia. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville. Rev. Austin Leger, pastor of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church will conduct the services. Con-celebrants will be Rev. Keith DeRouen and Rev. Kenneth Bienvenue. Mr. Bonin was a 1952 graduate of St. Martinville High School. He graduated from University of Louisiana in 1957 with a BS Degree from the College of Engineering. He started in business with his father immediatley upon graduation from college. He began as an estimator and supervisor. He was the majority owner and president of Tilden A. Bonin Contractor, Inc. from 1976-1995. He continued to work part-time at the business from 1995-2003. He was named the Outstanding Young Man of America in 1965. He was a member of PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America). As a member of the Lafayette PDCA, which he was instrumental in forming, he served as chapter president and secretary. He was the Chairman of Charity Project in 1968, served as vice president for the Southern Tri-States Council in 1962 and 1963, served as president for the Southern Tri-States Council in 1964 and 1965 and also served on the National Executive Board (Southern Tri-States Council from 1966-1971. Mr. Bonin served on the City Council for the City of St. Martinville from 1962-1966 which he was mayor pro tem during these years. Mr. Bonin was also past president of USL Alumni Association for St. Martin Parish, St. Martinville Chamber of Commerce, St. Martinville Lion's Club, Southwest Louisiana Rehabilitation Association and the St. Martin Parish Easter Seal Society. He also served on the Board of Directors at Teche Bank and Trust in 1969. Tilden also was a partner in the Spanish Trail Golf Club. He served as the organizer and chairman for the AGC Charity Golf Tournament for 16 years. He was also an associate member of AGC. Survivors include his wife, Deanie Huval Bonin of St. Martinville; his sister, Linda Viator and her husband, Malcolm of New Iberia; his nieces and nephews, Joni Lantier and her husband, Troy, of Broussard, Lynne Judice and her husband, Mark, Robin Broussard and her husband, James, all of St. Martinville, Todd Viator and his wife, Tina of Broussard, Durk Viator and his wife, Heidi and Guy Viator and his wife, Spring all of New Iberia.; his step daughters, Kerry Champagne of St. Martinville, Katie Barnes and her husband, Jim, of Dallas, TX, Konie Heard and her husband, Dr. Michael Heard of Lafayette, Kelly April and her husband, Bobby, of New Orleans, Kara Hebert and her husband, Dr. Mitchell Hebert of Baton Rouge, Kodi Calais of Phoenix, AZ, and Kasi Comeaux and her husband, Paul of Lafayette, 11 step grandchildren, 1 step great grandchild, and 22 grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tilden Bonin, Sr. and Nita Landry Bonin; his first wife, Bonnie Fontenot Bonin, and his sister, Eula Bonin. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 12:30 pm till 8:00 pm on Monday, December 18, 2006 and continue at 10:00 am Tuesday, December 19, 2006 until time of service. A rosary will be recited at 5:30 pm Monday. Pallbearers will be Todd Viator, Durk Viator, Guy Viator, Gary Barras, Glen Oubre and George Laviolette. Honorary pallbearers will be Chip Durand, Tom Buillard, Floyd Breaux and Anthony Randazzo. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements