Gilbert E. Bunten, 61, of Elizabethton, Tenn., passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at his residence. A native of Carter County, he was the son of the late William G. Bunten and Mary Bunten, Elizabethton, and his birth mother, Thelma Bowman Meddles of Ohio.
Mr. Bunten was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served in Vietnam and Iraqi Freedom. He retired from the U.S. Air National Guard after 21 years. He was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church and a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He loved his daughters and grandchildren, spending time with his family and enjoyed Sunday dinners at Ma Maws.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his wife, Enrica “Rikki” Morgan Bunten; a step-daughter, Jennifer Davis; and a brother, Roy Bowman.
Those left to cherish his memory in addition to his mother include his step-mother, Mary Bunten, Elizabethton; two daughters, Windy Bunten and Heather Bunten, both of the home; grandchildren, Jada Bunten, Jaden Bunten and Jackson Bunten, all of Elizabethton; step-daughters, Bridget Simpson, Elizabethton, and Jacque Caldwell of Florida; step-son, Greg Garritani of New York; step-grandchildren, Jordan McKinney, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tatum Street, Elizabethton, Kenedy Bacon and Trenedy Bacon, both of Texas, and Nathan Davis of Florida; brothers, Walter Meddles and wife Jerri Lu and Mike Meddles, both of Ohio, Bill Bunten and wife Donna, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Bradford Bunten and wife Jennie, Bluff City; and sisters, Debbie and husband Steve of Ohio, Geneva Hoss and husband Jack, Margie Nelson and husband Jeff and Rebecca Bunten, all of Elizabethton. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Mr. Gilbert E. Bunten will be conducted at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 12, in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services with Rev. Jack Roddy and Rev. John Vance officiating. Music will be under the direction of Becky Bunten and Inez Johnson. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, prior to the funeral service, or at the residence of his mother, Mary Bunten, at other times. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Brad Bunten, Bill Bunten, Gerod Bunten, Jeff Nelson, Steve Grindstaff and Dan McQueen. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Hoss, Jeffery Nelson, Billy Cole, Roger Bunten, Allen Simerly and Rev. Bruce Hendrich. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Those attending the graveside service will meet at the funeral home at 1:30 p.m. Monday to go in procession to the cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family and viewed by visiting our website at www.hathawaypercy.com.
Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the Bunten family. Office (423) 543-5544.