James Walter Bunting

James Walter Bunting, 75, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2009, at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Mountain City on December 3, 1933, to the late Ott and Ina Bunting. He served two years in the U.S. Army. Before his retirement in 1988, he was employed in supervision with the Regional Transit Authority in Cleveland, Ohio.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon and on various committees. Mr. Bunting was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class. He had volunteered for several years with Holston Habitat for Humanity where he served on the Executive Board for a number of years as the Site Selection Chairman. Mr. Bunting also worked for fourteen years at the Habitat Resale Store. He was an avid golfer and a gardener who loved sharing his garden with his friends. Mr. Bunting will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends as one who always had a warm smile and a big heart.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Barton Bunting and three sisters, Virginia Snyder, Opal Susi, and Kathleen Bunton.

He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Wilma Snyder Bunting; son, Jimmy Bunting and wife Nancy of Mountain City; daughters, Paula Bowins and husband Tom of Naples, FL, and Donna Bunting of Johnson City; grandchildren, Kieran Herrerra, Candice, Tommy, and Amanda Bowins, Jason, Matthew, and Dustin Bunting, Amy Augustine, Amberleigh Lawley, Tionnia Silsby, and Michael Felt; great-grandchildren, Dakota, Katie, Allison, Brooklyn, Madison, Peyton, Nahaiya, and Kyra; brothers, Marshall Bunting of Babylon, NY, Fred Bunting and wife Lydia of Tacoma, WA, Doran Bunting and wife Vida, Harold Bunting and wife Linda, all of Mountain City, Mac Bunting and wife Connie of Walls, MS; sisters Mary Ginolfi and Shirley Bunting, both of Mountain City; sisters-in-law, Sue Bunting, Norma Ransom, and Frances Kitchell, all of Mountain City, and Eleanor Vannoy of Bristol, TN.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at First Baptist Church on Friday at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Marvin Cameron and Dr. J. Spurgeon McCartt officiating. The eulogy will be given by Pete Morrisett. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

An entombment service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Sunset Memorial Park in Mountain City with Rev. Frank Ransom officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Friendship Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church; 200 W. Church Circle; Kingsport, TN 37662 or to the Holston Habitat for Humanity; 100 Greenwood Lane; Kingsport, TN 37663.