Edd Robinson Bonner, son of Tom Robinson Bonner and Annie Laura Willard, was born at Bonnerville, Texas on October 17, 1917. His mother wanted to name him Tom, Jr. but his father refused. The Edd was taken from a cousin, Edward Brice Robinson. His brother Hugh often called him "Burks," a nickname, and his nieces and nephews called him "Buddy Edd." Edd attended school in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1934. He attended Metropolitan Business College in Dallas but did not finish. In reality, he did not enjoy school. Having spent much of his youth working in his parents' store and working in their agricultural pursuits, he spent his entire life in these occupations. Edd often told of walking to the store after school and then going to feed. He also remembered napping on sacks of feed in the back of the store. He used an EZ on the right hip to brand his cattle. Edd had a reputation with his family of working so late that it was impossible to see. Many times someone left Fairfield to go look for him only to meet him on the road after it had been dark for over an hour. Tuck recalled one time when they were plowing at the Bonner Place and ran out of gas. Tuck was hot, tired, and ready to go home but Edd siphoned gas from the pickup so they could continue plowing. According to Tuck, "He didn't know when to quit." .On November 21, 1937, he married Angie May Watson. Edd was slight of build and had already begun to lose some hair when they married; his mild demeanor and calm attitude combined to make him a joy to have around. Many came to him for advice and he always maintained shared confidences. He knew what honor meant and lived by it. After their marriage, they rented a garage apartment behind 425West Main in Fairfield from Bettie Bonner. They then moved to the George Bradley house in Stewards Mill on land owned by Tom and Laura Bonner. They would recount living at the Bradley Place for years, fondly remembering the house built in the 1850s and sitting four feet off the ground. By the time they lived there, it had two rooms on each side of a center hall and an enclosed back porch downstairs and two rooms upstairs. They recalled that the chimneys were too old to allow them to use the fireplaces safely and were held upright by a cable running between them in the attic. They often told of hearing the cable vibrate as rats hit it. In 1954, they tore down the George Bradley house and used the lumber to build a new house in Fairfield at 302 North Hall Street. This land, purchased from Joel Bonner, had once been the site of the home of Irvine Hale Bonner and Rebecca Jane Robinson. They lived in this house until their deaths. They were parents of two sons; Michael Edd and William Andrew. Edd died in Waco, McLennan Co., Texas on October 29, 1986.
Edd was a past master of Fairfield Lodge No. 103, A.F.&A.M and served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master. He also held memberships in the York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shrine Masonic bodies and was a past patron of Fairfield Chapter No. 331, Order of the Eastern Star. Edd joined the Methodist Church after marriage and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fairfield, he served as treasurer for several years. In addition to ranching, he had other jobs. After a brief stint with the post office, Edd, his brother Hugh, and his brother-in-law Forrest operated Motor Sales Company on Mount Street in Fairfield as partners for several years before Edd bought Hugh out. Edd served on the Fairfield City Council for a few years. Later he served as Commissioner, Precinct 1, Freestone County. Edd had a sweet tooth and always had candy to eat. One of his favorite snacks was to tear a couple of pieces of "light bread" into bits and put them into a glass; milk and a couple of teaspoons of sugar provided the sweetness he craved. In their later years they enjoyed traveling and took several trips: Israel; Egypt; Europe; Canada; several places in the U.S.

The Fairfield Recorder, Nov 6, 1986
Edd R. Bonner
Funeral services were held for former Fairfield city councilman and Freestone County Commissioner Edd Robinson Bonner, 68, who died last Wednesday in Waco. Mr. Bonner was born Oct 30, 1917 at Stewards Mill and was a rancher and a member of First United Methodist Church of Fairfield. He was a graduate of Fairfield high school and attended Metropolitan Business School in Dallas. Mr. Bonner served as a member of the Fairfield city council from 1961 to 1969 and served as Freestone County commissioner from 1969 to 1984. For a number of years he operated Motor Sales Company in Fairfield.
Mr. Bonner was a Mason and was a Past Master of the Fairfield Lodge 103, Past Patron of Fairfield Chapter 331 OES, KCCH Waco Scottish Rite bodies, Past HP Teague Chapter RAM, Past TIM Teague Council R&SM, Palestine Commandery, and KAREM Temple Shrine. Services were conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at Capps Memorial Chapel with Dr. Bill Gandin officating. Organ music was provided by Mrs. Watt Newman. Burial was in Bonner Cemetery.