***Courtesy post for Seals Funeral Home***
Thomas Ellis Bonar, 88, of Fishers, Indiana, passed away on April 1, 2026, at Wellbrooke of Carmel. He was born on September 22, 1937, in Miami, Arizona, the son of Ellis Eugene Bonar and Margaret Lucy (McIntire) Bonar.
During high school, Tom was a member of ROTC and the Boy Scouts of America, and achieved the Order of the Arrow, recognizing leadership and living the values of scouting. He was musically talented, playing the tuba in the University of Kansas Band while attending University of Kansas and conducting a 9-piece jazz band, Collegians, in the Lawrence & Kansas City area, where he also performed on upright bass and drums. In 1964, Tom graduated from Findlay Engineering College in Kansas City, Missouri, with a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
Tom had a long career with General Motors Corporation, Delco Remy Division. He began his career in 1957 as a student and advanced through roles including junior layout man, chief clerk, foreman, assistant superintendent, night superintendent, plant superintendent, plant manager, chief engineer, and Director of Batter operations . He retired in 1992 with Twelve Battery manufacturing plants under his direction. Tom's career took him from Olathe, Kansas, to Anderson, Indiana; Fitzgerald, Georgia; and eventually to Sarreguemines, France. When Tom returned back to Anderson IN as Director of Battery Operations he resided in Indianapolis, IN in Geist.
An avid aviation enthusiast, Tom built model airplanes and flew for many years with the Madison County RC Flyers. He was also a private pilot and co-owned a Cessna N4474L, with his father. Thomas loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and boating enthusiast. He was also an accomplished marksman who enjoyed both hunting and fishing.
Tom rode his Suzuki Burgman 450 Scooter at many motorcycle charity events alongside his daughter. Together, they also shared a passion for performance vehicles, accompanying one another on both large scale attendance motorcycle rides and in the C8 Corvette on laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track more than 20 times between 2006 and 2025.
Tom thoroughly loved his baseball hat collection. He would select just the right hat for the occasion of cars shows, sports events, and airshows to name a few. He especially liked when the Independence Village Fishers South residents noticed and commented on his daily choice and its sentimental meaning.
On April 5, 1958, he married Shirley Eileen (Wilson) Bonar, and she preceded him in death on May 4, 1999. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Donald Hugh Bonar on March 31, 2025.
Tom is survived by his daughter, Susan Bonar Specht; his nieces, Jennifer Bonar Roe, Sarah Bonar Albert, Leesa Rondinelli Palmer, and Gina Rondinelli McBride; his sisters-in-law, Carol Wilson Rondinelli and Sandy Hettic Bonar.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 15 at 1:30 P.M. at Independence Village of Fishers South, 9745 Olympia Drive, Fishers, Indiana, with a memorial visitation from 1:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. Interment of his cremated remains will be in Newcomer’s Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Olathe, Kansas.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
Condolences may be shared with Tom's family at www.sealsfuneralhome.com.