Arthur Gonia

CLEVELAND Arthur Winston Gonia, 93, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2013. He was the son of the late Isaac Barksdale Gonia and Dorthula Bain Gonia. He was also preceded in death by his Spouse of 69 years, Wilma Christina Gonia; brother I B Gonia; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Frances and Elmo Harmon, Reba and Erwin Dorn, brother-in-laws, Joe Blocker and Lamar Parton; and nephews Clayton Womack and David Harmon.He was one of the first men to paint the ROCK CITY SIGNS on the roof of barns for many years. After coming home from the War he promised God he would do what God called him to do. He was a minister for over 65 years in the Church of God of Prophecy. He pastored in Tennessee, North Carolina and Maryland until he retired in 1984. He loved to preach even when he no longer could. He loved golfing, deep sea fishing and woodworking. At the time of his death he was a member of Hickory Valley Church of God of Prophecy in Chattanooga.He entered the Military March 27, 1943 and was a member of the 892d Chemical Company and served overseas in New Guinea, Philippines, Okinawa, and Ie Shima Islands as a toxic gas handler. Stored and loaded gas unit tanks with smoke gases and other chemical warfare gases. He filled airplane chemical spray tanks with various toxic gasses, and armed tanks for detonation. Decontaminated spray tanks. Took dry napalm and mixed with gasoline to make napalm incendiary bombs. He was schooled in chemical warfare technique. Citations-World war II Victory Ribbon, Good conduct medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and one Bronze Star GO 23 Hq USAFFE 56 AP Ribbon and One Silver Service Star. Discharged on Nov. 24 1945.Survivors include his daughters, Rama Christina Gonia, of Cleveland, Norma Laverne Bryant and her husband James E., of Cleveland; grandsons, Dean Bryant and wife Dana, Shane Bryant and wife Tabitha, of Cleveland, Barksdale Bryant and wife Crystal, of Macomb, Ill., Andrew Bryant and wife Pam, of Douglasville, Ga.; great-grandsons: Cameron Tyler Bryant, Tanner Ashlin Bryant, of Cleveland, and Cadence Arthur Bryant, of Douglasville, Ga.; great-granddaughter Trinity Malei Bryant, of Douglasville Ga.; sister Charlotte Blocker, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Sister-in-law Frances Gonia, of Florida; sister-in-law Bettye Parton, of Kannapolis, N.C.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joyce and Don Womack, of Chattanooga, Tenn., sister-in-law and brother-in-law Iris and T H Parton, of Alabaster, Ala.; many cousins, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; Special Friends Jim and Ernestene Whittaker and Beverly and Alvin Davis.The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. from the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy with Reverend Duke Stone and Bishop E. C. McKinley officiating. Interment will follow in the Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with grandsons, Dean, Shane, Barksdale and Andrew Bryant, great-grandsons Cameron, Tanner and Cadence and great-granddaughter, Trinity Bryant. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Retired Ministers. The family will receive friends from 4 until 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the North Ocoee Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes who has charge of the arrangements. The Memorial book may be viewed and signed at http://www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com/.