Howard & Elsie Sonn

One day I stopped by the dealership and made the comment to the service advisor that the lady with me is my mom.  The gentleman sat back and looked at me with a huge smile and politely said; “Stevie, everyone here at the dealership knows who your mom and who your dad is: That’s Mr. and Mrs. Coca-Cola.  They did everything together.”

Obituary

My beloved and truly remarkable parents, Elsie Regina and Howard Westley Sonn, passed away peacefully after 58 wonderful years of marriage together.   Howard, 84, passed away on September 1st, 2023, and Elsie, 83, followed him on July 22, 2025.  

Their live long love they shared together was enjoyed by their two adorable puppies (the babies) being Levi, who passed on and Cody, who passed on.  Both filled with love and happiness.

Howard was born in 1939 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, to Elmer Sonn and Stella Marsicano.   Howard enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional truck driver retiring from the Coca Cola Bottling Company after 32 years.  He was an avid Coca-Cola Collector owning a world known collection.  Elsie was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Walter Bertram Bookhultz and Mary Alice Reid.  Raised with her wonderful stepdad, Charles McDonald.  Elsie was proudly employed for 23 years as a deli-worker for Pantry Pride and Giant Food.  Enjoyed 10 years at the Basket Shop in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  

As a couple they were inseparable enjoying life with their two wonderful puppy dogs, Cody and the Levi.  Their greatest love was spending time with family and friends. They were proud parents to their son, Steve.  Proud grandparents to their granddaughter Michelle and a very proud great grandparents to 2 great grand kids, Abby and Finn.  They are survived by their Son,
Steven, and Sister to Elsie, Pam, Granddaughter Michelle, Great Grandkids Abby and Finn.  Their lifelong friends Debbie, Tom, Virginia and Kevin with their wonderful son, Aaron.  Their favorite hobby in life was traveling the country attending Coca-Cola Conventions for over 25 years with Howard having one of the world’s largest collections.  Once retired, they were known in Vero Beach as Mr. and Mrs. Coca-Cola. 

You are invited to join us in celebrating the lives of Howard and Elsie on November 6th, at 1:00pm at one of the following:


Florida: Olive Garden, 2690 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32966.                   RSVP: Steven Sonn -    401.787.1077

Maryland:  Olive Garden, 2690 Compromise Street, Bel Air, Maryland, 21014      RSVP: Michelle Milam - 410.259.0569


Virtually/Remote: Zoom Meeting ID: 241 841 0501.    Passcode:  CocaCola

Memory

In March of 2023 my father took the puppies and me for a walk. A walk and talk you could call it. He ask me; “When I leave please take care of your mom for me? And If I leave before your mom……could you please wait until your mom leaves you to be with me and the pups to honor me? I would very much love e to be honored together with your mother. We did and do everything together Steven. Would you please do that for me?” I hugged him and said I would be honored and considered it done Dad.

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October 30, 2025

On one of my visits to see my parents and the puppys, my mom ask me to go with her to the store while my dad powerwashes the house. I would loved to go to the store with you mom. Let's go🙂

She took me to a store called publix and went to the deli and ordered one item. Pick up a few other things on her list and we left. That was fast I said to her. She said we just began stevie weavie and she went to another publix up the street and did the exact dame thing. She went in and got one item from deli and chatted with all the deli workers. We left and she did it again up the street. Ended up being 4 publix delies she went to and last one she bought 2 freshly made fried chicken breast. She said they are for the puppies dinners that she makes with veddies and stuff. I just witness my mom and her new founded "Deli Racket"
I said mom, you have a deli racket in florida. She said; " no I dont. I just do my rounds and talk to my girls at the deli." We went home and she taught me how she made the puppies dinner using the chicken breast. I ate some and wow it was better fried chicken then royal farms and I was hooked on their chicken.
OK, now a few weeks after my mom passed away I was driving and got the cravings for Publix fried chicken and ordered 2 freshly made breasts and went in to pick them up at the 58th street publi deli
As I approached the counter the lady recognized me and said oh my goodness, I knew those 2 chicken breast was for Jeannie and the babies. How are they doing she ask me? I literally broke into tears and polity told her I lost my wonderful mom a few weeks ago and the babies and my father over the last 15monthes. I am so sorry you didn't know but I ordered them for me. The lady and the entire staff of 5 stopped what they were doing and came over to me to give me their condolences. I know I pissed off all the other customers off due to the stoppage but they can live with it and it was so thoughtful of them to comfort me. I looked at them and ask everyone one of them if by chance if they knew what my mom did for a living and retired from in her career. They all looked at each other and said we have no idea. I told them about my mom and her having a deli racket and the story of going to 4 seperate delies. They had no idea and they laughed with me because they all rotate the different stores and see her all the time in different stores. We'll, I wiped my tears again and told them that she was a deli worker and that's the reason why I think she went to each publix deli and bought 1 item. She told me all the time that she has spend time with her girls at the deli racket 🥳. They all just stared at me with a wonderful smile and told me thanks for letting us know that information. We did not know and I gave all of them a postcard invitation and invites them to dinner. She had a deli racket in Vero Beach Florida filled with Love❤️. I love and miss you so much mom. Thanks for the memories 🙏

Steven Sonn

October 28, 2025

I have many memories of Uncle Howard and Aunt Jean. We would all get together at Nana’s house for family meals and holidays. We would also visit each other often. Uncle Howard always loved to joke with me and tell me stories. Aunt Jean loved to be the hostess and make sure we had plenty to eat. I enjoyed going out to their farmette and seeing them. I remember one Christmas, Aunt Jean really wanted a horse. So Uncle Howard came up with the perfect idea. He gave her carousel horse. Later on he did give her a real horse to enjoy. And he had his farm. They were always fun to be with and will be missed!

Vanessa Lane

October 28, 2025

Three brothers, Elmer, Richard, Thoburn (we called him Uncle Sonny) in those early times things where hard. Uncle Elmer and Aunt Stella stayed with us in Columbus Ohio for a short time and that’s when Howard and my sister became very close, They were about the same age. Lavada was a little older and Toby was close to our younger sister Carol. Some good memories.

Betty Sonn-Bacon

October 25, 2025

When we came to Florids for winter an visied my sistet Betty we got to gether at a little fishing camp restaurant.It was Betty an Rus,Agatha an John,Howatd an Jeannie. Sometimes other friends joined us.we had such afun time.we sure miss them.

Agatha Alice Rapp

October 10, 2025

We had so many grand parent memories together. Like Bill & Michelle's wedding, their first home, being together at the hospital for the birth of our grand babies, Christmas morning excitement, Birthdays, Holidays, Vacations, new puppies, and surprise weekends. You had no doubt for their love of Michelle and the grand children and Bill and the grand puppies and she did not leave out the cat- Amara. I kept in touch with Grammy - via pictures and texts and some phone calls. I will miss Ms. Jeannie/ Grammy. I know you will keep watching the "blessings" that are still here. Tell Pop Hi! Love MO!

Cathy Milam

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