Bonds sell business started in 1981

The owners of Larry’s Auto and Marine will retire Friday. Penny and Larry Bonds have spent the last few days on the job helping the store’s new owner Joel Moore with details of the hand-over.

Penny Bonds said she and husband Larry wound up moving to Wahkiakum after they came to visit her sister in Skamokawa and fell in love with the county in 1981.

“We decided to move here and we thought ‘you know they need a parts store here’ and that’s what started it,” said Penny.

“Actually we discussed opening a garage repair facility with my brother-in-law,” said Larry. He asked his brother-in-law where he bought his auto parts from and was told he’d have to drive to Longview.

“I said 'I can’t work on cars and drive to Longview to get parts', and my brother-in-law said, ‘Well, open an auto parts store along with your garage’, so we did,” said Larry.

The Bonds said they opened the first garage/auto parts store May 1, 1981, in the Elochoman Marina in Cathlamet. Larry said there was a large empty building available at the marina.

“It was where the new restrooms are now,” he said, “we were there for four years.”

The decision to move the auto parts store to its new location next to the Shell station on SR 4 wasn’t a quick one.

“Originally, the store we’re in now was owned by Phil Doumit,” said Larry. “He asked me to move up here and build on a garage. At first I told him I couldn’t afford it but eventually he hassled me long enough that I agreed to make the move.”

The Bonds said the decision to move their shop was frightening because by 1985 the recession was in full swing and taking its toll on the economy.

“At the time Crown Zellerbach had closed,” said Penny, “and things were a little scary economically around here.”

Over the years, the Bonds have been supporters and boosters for a myriad of events and organizations throughout the county. They have been sponsors for the Dollars For Scholars and the Skamokawa Car Show held at the fairgrounds. Larry also served on the Port District No. 1 board of commissioners for six years.

“We’ve also contributed to several Wahkiakum High School programs, and each year sponsor the football and baseball teams,” said Penny.

With the work chapter of their life closing, the Bonds both agree they aren’t sure what’s next.

“I’m going to garden, and Larry has a woodshop he likes to work in,” said Penny.

As expected from a man who has worked in the auto industry for over 40 years, Larry has several old cars he wants to work on. His collection includes a ’56 Thunderbird and a ’62 Ford Galaxy.

“His newest project, I call it a rust-bucket,” said Penny with a giggle. “It’s in storage and it needs to go.”

“Oh, it’s not a rust-bucket,” Larry said under his breath. Larry said the car in question is a ’55 Ford two-door-hardtop. “You keep calling a ‘rust-bucket’ and when it’s done you’re not riding in it.".

Larry said with retirement comes the opportunity and time to do things like take in some of the area’s car shows. He said he’d also like to travel with Penny and see parts of America and perhaps trace the roots of human civilization.

“That kind of interests me so I’d also like to see Egypt, Italy and Greece,” he said.

The Bonds say they plan to stay in Wahkiakum. They love the place and the people.

“Everyone has been really good to us all the years we’ve been here,” said Larry.

He said he’ll miss the friendly, often funny exchanges with his customers over the counter at the auto parts store and even expects to miss his days being structured by the requirements of work.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do not having my time so structured,” said Penny. Larry added that he has been self employed for 40 years and he’s unsure about the endless days of retirement.

Penny said for the last few months their customers have been offering advice.

“They all say the first couple of months of retirement are the hardest and then you get into the groove,” said Penny

“Yeah, all of my retired friends say they are busier now than they ever were,” said Larry. “Actually though, one of the hardest things will be missing all the people we’ve made friends with over the years.”

Penny said the more she thinks about retirement the more it might be good for the community.

“As I thought about retirement,” said Penny, “I realized we were tired and I think Joel Moore will bring new energy to the business and new services to the community.”