Mr. Bonds, 83, was a man's man who strived for integrity and lived by example not by talk. He graduated from Ensley High School in 1948 then entered the U.S. Army in 1949 and was a Korean War Veteran. He graduated from Auburn University in 1955 and went to work for U.S. Steel in the Marketing Department as a research analyst in Birmingham and Pittsburg, PA. He was called back to Birmingham to become the first bank marketing man in Alabama. He worked up from Asst. VP, VP, and finally as Sr. VP of the Govt. Bank, Marketing and Advertising Dept. for the Division Southtrust Bank Holding Corp. He was instrumental in bringing bank credit cards to Birmingham as Bank America Card and also bringing ATM machines to the banking industry in Alabama. Frank won the International Gold Coin Award for Marketing and Advertising, issued in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was President of Birmingham Marketing Assoc. of Alabama, Alabama Bank Finance Club, and voted Most Valuable Member of the Marketing Association several times. He was a charter member of the President's Club of Alabama and Aide De Camp for both Gov. George Wallace and Gov. Lurleen Wallace. He was also an officer and leader of numerous church and business clubs and associations, but was most proud of being a wonderful husband to Lavada for nearly 63 years and the best father and grandfather anyone could ever have. Frank is survived by his wife Lavada; three children, Cheryl Gamble, Frank Bonds Jr., and Brian D. Bonds; seven grandchildren, Tyler Gamble, Emily Gamble, Frank Bonds III, Georgia Kathryn Tuton, Maggie Bonds, Shealyn Gill and Brianna Bonds; and one great-granddaughter, Lorelei Bonds. Services were held at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home & Cemetery, Pelham, Alabama.

Published in The Birmingham News on Dec. 31, 2013

Son of Erskine & Lois Graham Bonds. Older sister Mary A. Bonds moved to New York after high school, younger sister Frances E. Bonds. His mother, Lois, born 1909, was from Illinois and is remembered as a very kind lady.