Charles lived at Oakwood Lodge for a while, which is a modern care home in Willenhall. Image from EAC.

Yesterday (4th June 2024) Walsall Council issued an appeal to find relatives of Charles Bonner, who passed away in May at the Arboretum Nursing Home – well, thanks to the efforts of all involved, Mr Bonner’s daughter has now been located.

Walsall Council issued the following statement:

Funeral arrangements are now being made for a formal naval man who passed away at one of the town’s nursing homes after Walsall Council officers managed to trace one of his relatives.

Charles Bonner, aged 78, used to live Willenhall.

He passed away at Arboretum Nursing Home in Forest Lane, Walsall, on 23 May 2014, where he was receiving end of life care.

Julie Faulkner, from environmental health at Walsall Council, appealed for help from the public in tracing the pensioner’s family or friends so they could make the necessary funeral arrangements.

Very little was known about his family.

Mr Bonner’s estranged daughter has now been contacted following the discovery of a letter she sent her father some years ago.

Neil Harris, principal environmental health officer, said: ‘The news of her father’s death was understandably very upsetting and we would again extend our sympathies to Mr Bonner’s family upon their loss.

‘We would also like to thanks the thousands of people who read our appeal for information and shared it among Walsall’s communities. The important thing is that Mr Bonner’s family are now making arrangements for his funeral.’

The family has requested that no further information is released.

Thanks to Neil, Julie and all the team at Walsall Council’s Environmental Health Unit who work so hard and with great delicacy in matters like this – a sadly necessary but essential area of their work.

Of course, thanks also to you readers, and all who shared and commented on Social a Media. This is what community is all about. Cheers.

Due to the sensitivity of the case, I would ask readers to think carefully before commenting publicly.

Thanks.

Posted with Blogsy