Maurice "Sonny" Lonas

Mr. Maurice “Sonny” Lonas, age 81, of Eagleville, TN, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at his residence.  He was a native of Winchester, VA, and was a son of the late Vernon Elwood and Edith Viola Shanholtz Lonas.  He attended Eagleville Methodist Church.  Sonny was a musician, a dispatcher for the Brentwood Police Dept., and later a greeter for Sam’s Club.  His love for music and playing the drums began as a child when his parents gave him a set of drums on Christmas and he started playing in bands at the age of 16 in the Virginia/Washington, DC area.  Later, he was Patsy Cline’s drummer for several years in Virginia and moved to Nashville with her and her husband when she joined the Grand Ole Opry.  Sonny returned to Virginia but came back to Nashville in 1970 and was the drummer for Ernest Tubb for several years.  He has played back up on numerous recordings, and most recently, was a member of the Music Meister Band that played at the Gerst Haus in Nashville and at various German Festivals.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 13 years, Bobbie Sue Lonas of Eagleville, TN; sons, James E. Lonas of Stephen City, VA, Maurice Lonas, Jr. of Nashville, TN; step children, Todd (Rhonda) Shelton of Watertown, TN, Kristy (Richie) Bolin of Murfreesboro, TN, and Carol (Matt) Hodge of Rockvale, TN; 6 grandchildren, Josh and Ryan Lonas, Maria Sharp, Taylor Bolin, Blake Hodge, Brent Hodge, special buddies and great grandsons, Connor and Camden Hodge; sisters, Jean Hook of Geneva, OH and Shirley (Eddie) Zirkle of Winchester, VA.

Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, July 2, 2020 from 11 AM until 1 PM at Lawrence Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at 1 PM from the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Rev. Brad Demonbreun and Rev. Jack Gilbert officiating.  Interment will follow at Simpson Cemetery in the Rover Community in Bedford County, TN.

Blake Hodge, Brent Hodge, Taylor Bolin, Ben Sharp, Matt Hodge, Richie Bolin and Todd Shelton will serve as pallbearers.

For those who wish memorial donations may be made to the Eagleville United Methodist Church in Eagleville, TN.