Donnie Bunch

Donnie Edward Bunch, son of the late Omer and Zora (Cunningham) Bunch, was born December 25, 1938, in Roosevelt, Missouri, and departed this life May 14, 2018, at Cox Health in Springfield, Missouri. He was 79 Years, 4 months, and 19 days of age.

Donnie graduated from Willow Springs High School in 1958. He married Carolyn Gibbons on September 13, 1963, in Willow Springs, Missouri. One daughter was born to this union. Donnie and Carolyn moved to Mountain Grove, Missouri, and he went to work for Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative as a lineman. They later moved to Marshfield, Missouri, where he worked as a dispatcher for the company until retirement. In 2000, they moved back to Mountain Grove.

He served his country in the United States Army from 1960-1962. He then transferred to the Army Reserves until 1966. Donnie loved his country and was proud of his military service. In later years, he faithfully honored others who served their country by leading the American Legion Honor Guard at memorial services throughout Southwest Missouri.

Donnie grew up participating in sports, from his early days playing baseball at Twin Bridges and playing high school football for the Willow Springs Bears to team bowling at the local lanes as an adult. His passion for sports continued throughout his life. He greatly enjoyed watching the Cardinals and Chiefs and watching his grandson, Brett, pitch for his baseball team.

Donnie lived life to the fullest. He loved hunting and fishing. Whether deer hunting close to home to pheasant hunting in Nebraska and Kansas, fishing for bass in Norfork Lake, or fishing for walleye in Canada, Donnie was always ready for the outdoors. His love for being outdoors included golfing in later years. It didn’t matter if he was spending time on the local course or vacationing in Hawaii, Donnie was always on the links.

Donnie was also a member of the First Christian Church of Mountain Grove and enjoyed spending time with his church family.

Besides his parents, Donnie was preceded in death by his daughter, Cindy Dawn Tolbert, on March 10, 2016, and by one brother, Jimmy Bunch.

He is survived by his loving wife of their home in Mountain Grove, Carolyn, his son-in-law, Terry Tolbert of Springfield, Missouri, one grandson, Brett Tolbert of Springfield, Missouri, two brothers, Omer Bunch, Jr. and his wife, Shirley, and Ted Bunch and his wife, Barbara, all of West Plains, Missouri, two sisters, Carolyn Davis and Linda Spence and her husband, Larry, all of Willow Springs, Missouri, one sister-in-law, Sharlene Bunch of Willow Springs, Missouri, , several nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends who will greatly miss him.