Derek Bonshor

Derek Bonshor June 19, 1939 – August 30, 2021 Derek Bonshor, 82 of Wilson passed away Monday. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Barnes Family Cemetery, Wiggins Mill Road, Wilson. The Rev. Wayne Whitley will officiate. Derek’s ambition on leaving school was to join the Royal Navy but his father had other ideas, so he started work “down the pit” at Denby Colliery, a local coal mine, as the head of the rescue team. He won many awards for his rescues. He was well known for his beautiful calligraphy handwriting – you could ALWAYS identify the card that had come from Derek! He always enjoyed football (“football” in the UK, “soccer” in the US); listening to and watching his favorite team Derby County, playing, and refereeing, which he later turned into a career that he loved. He adored country and western music and used to present a weekly country and western music program on BBC Radio Derby every Tuesday, the local radio station in Derbyshire. He also had a lifelong love of CB radios and made friends across the world through both of these passions, both of which he continued to love throughout his life. This love of country music was what piqued his interest in America, and he made frequent visits during the 1970’s and 80’s, staying with friends Virginia and Guy Alderman in St. Clairsville, Ohio as a result. He moved to American in the mid 80’s and settled in North Carolina, where he met his “special lady friend”, Justine Corbett. For thirty-four years they shared their love of education, the arts, traveling and being active in the community. Derek was the soccer coach at Atlantic Christian College, taught at Fike High School and was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church. Derek loved life and everyone in it! He will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him and had the pleasure to be around that infectious personality that always left you with a smile on your face! Derek is survived by his loving companion of thirty-four years, Justin Corbett of Wilson; sisters, Dorothy Parker and Kathleen Dady and husband, Ian both of England, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Frances Bonshor, and his nephew, Richard Buckley. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.