Milton Dayne Bonta, 94, died peacefully on December 27, 2021, in his sleep. Dayne was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Frank B. and Hazel (Brown) Bonta. The family moved to Marion in 1929.
Dayne graduated from Marion High School in 1945 and played basketball and football as a student. He wanted to join the Army upon graduation, but he was only 17 and his parents wouldn’t sign the papers. They did allow him to join the Merchant Marine, and he went to the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, for training. His first assignment was on a ship delivering war material to Marseilles, France; however, the day after they arrived, the war was declared over. Dayne served out his contract working on Gulf oil tankers out of Houston. On April 15, 1947, his assigned ship was loaded and headed into the Gulf of Mexico, a day early. The next day, the famous Houston Ship Channel Explosion occurred, killing 581 people and injuring 3,500 more. His family assumed he was killed until he was able to contact them several days later.
After his Merchant Marine service, Dayne returned to Marion and married Lorene Brandon in 1948. He worked at the C&H Shoe Store while attending Purdue and Ball State for his degree in accounting. He volunteered for the Air Force in 1952 and was assigned to Lackland A.F.B. in San Antonio as an accountant.
After he was discharged, Dayne and Lorene returned to Marion, where he worked for the IRS. He received his master’s degree in business from Ball State University and, in 1967, became a partner in the Holliday, Shrock, and Bonta private tax accounting firm. He retired twice in his 60s but was bored, so he opened his own office and continued to work until age 90.
Dayne was an avid and accomplished art photographer. He became interested in photography in the early ‘70s and, circa 1975, wrote to Ansel Adams, who invited Dayne to visit him in California. They spent several days together and Dayne learned a lot from Mr. Adams. Dayne had two photography exhibits at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and another at the Community School of the Arts in Marion. The University of the South used his photographs of their campus in a book and on posters in the ‘80s.
Dayne was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wallace “Bing” Bonta and Ernest D. “Gus” Bonta; sister, Suzanne Morris; and his beloved wife, Lorene (Brandon) Bonta.
He is survived by his daughters, Suzanne (Bill) Munn, Julianne Bonta, and Katherine Brandon; grandchildren, Katherine (husband, Abraham Underhill) Munn and Evan Munn; and several nieces and nephews.
Due to Covid, a Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gethsemane Episcopal Church, 803 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46952.
Arrangements are entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
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