Dr. John W. L. Bond

Dr. John W.L. Bond, a longtime Walla Walla eye surgeon, well-known member of the community, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away June 9 at his home. He was 101.

Our father was a passionate and loving man who was known for his sharp intellect. He enjoyed playing golf, bridge and rooting for the Detroit Tigers. He was also a fan of hockey, good political debates, literature, history, an evening martini and the town of Walla Walla where he lived for 70 years.

Dad was born on November 23, 1923, in the rural Canadian community of Semans, Saskatchewan. Dad’s father, Dr. Wallace Bond, delivered him in the kitchen of their home because a snowstorm kept the couple from driving to a hospital. Dad always joked that Semans was so small his birth probably increased the town’s population by 1%. This was a poor area and more than once dad’s father was paid for a doctor’s visit with a chicken or a carton of eggs.

A few years later, our grandfather moved the family to Saskatoon. Dad remembered those years fondly, even though Saskatoon winters were long and cold. One winter, dad fell for the age-old trick and got his tongue stuck to a frozen metal pole. He said it took days for his tongue to heal.

In 1936, our grandfather developed tuberculosis and was sent to a sanatorium to recover. The family lost their home, and dad’s sister, Beverly, was sent to live with grandparents in Chicago. Dad and his mother stayed behind in Saskatoon and moved into a rooming house.

A year later, grandfather was released from the sanatorium and the rest of the family moved to Chicago, where seven family members lived in a two-bedroom apartment. Dad enjoyed his year in Chicago, including watching New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig hit two home runs against the Chicago White Sox in one game.

Grandfather moved the family to Boise, Idaho later that year. Dad finished his school year in Chicago and joined the rest of his family.

Dad graduated from high school in 1940 at the age of 16 and received a scholarship to Whitman College in Walla Walla. A proud member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, dad’s college experience was life-changing, and he never lost his affection for Whitman or the town. He graduated in 1944 and enlisted in the army during World War II.

After boot camp and just before his unit was sent to fight in the South Pacific, dad received orders to attend the University of Michigan Medical School. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, dad was sent to Camp Stewart outside Savannah, Georgia. It was there that he met Myra Jeanne Gill working at that family restaurant, Gill’s Grill. A wartime romance blossomed. As they were fond of saying, they met in June, were engaged in August and married in September.

Soon after the wedding, dad was sent to Japan, where he treated patients in a military hospital. After his tour, the young couple moved to Portland, Oregon, for dad’s residency in Ophthalmology at what is now the Oregon Health and Sciences University. Later, dad accepted an offer from Dr. Frank Ralston to join his practice, which brought him back to Walla Walla.

Dad settled in the town in 1955 with his wife and first son, Stuart, who was born the year before in Portland. He arrived with a few hundred dollars in his pocket and immediately spent most of it to join the Walla Walla Country Club, which worried his bride, but was one more sign of his unwavering confidence.

He would be a regular at the club’s golf course for more than 65 years, winning many tournaments and trophies. He was known as a kindly trash-talker to his golfing buddies and maintained that it was his Scottish heritage that made him impervious to the cold and allowed him to wear shorts on the golf course in almost any weather.

A born competitor, dad was known for his skill around the greens. He was also a fine bowler. But where he really excelled was in card games, including bridge, which he played for more than 65 years at the Walla Walla Duplicate Bridge Club. He also competed in a variety of bridge tournaments, winning masterpoints.

Soon after arriving in the town, dad’s practice began to grow, including treating patients at the Walla Walla Penitentiary. His family grew as well. Within a few years, Craig, Allison and Jeff were also born. Later, we welcomed Japanese exchange student Oshu Go into the family. He lived with us while attending Walla Walla High School, visited Walla Walla while studying at the University of Washington and later worked for the Port of Seattle.

Mom and dad were both active in the local Democratic Party for many years and dad also was a leader of statewide physician organizations. In later years, the couple traveled widely in Europe and Japan. In 2000, soon after their 50th wedding anniversary, mom lost her battle with lung cancer.

But dad would find love again some years later when he married Mary Ann Bundy, a widow and friend from the bridge club. The two were together until Mary Ann’s passing in 2023. Dad continued to play bridge and stay active right up until his passing. In April, dad was recognized as achieving the rank of Gold Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League. It was a life well lived.

He is survived by his sons: Stuart and his wife Cindy, Craig and his wife Jenny, Jeff and his wife Carrie and Oshu and his wife Asako; daughter: Allison and her husband Bruce; his sister Beverly; eight grandchildren; two nieces and many loving friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There will be a celebration of life for dad this fall. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to the Blue Mountain Community Foundation John W. McGillis Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.