John Milton Bunch Sr., 91, of Charlotte, N.C., passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020, at Southminster Health Center in Charlotte.
Mr. Bunch was born February 17, 1929, in Statesville, N.C., and was the son of the late Henry Ross Bunch and Hilda Meacham Bunch. He attended school in Statesville. In the 10th grade, he left home to become a Page Boy in the Senate in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. He spent his 10th and 11th grade years serving in this capacity while attending Page School 1944-1946. He was the first person to obtain President Harry S. Truman’s autograph. The president also called John by name. He returned to Statesville to complete his senior year with his high school class. He graduated in 1949 from Mitchell College, went on to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, formally Peabody Teachers College, and graduated from Appalachian College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received a master’s and advanced degree in 1957.
Mr. Bunch also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he was stationed in Germany and was married to the late Anne Brown Bunch, who passed away October 25, 2002. He was retired from Charlotte Mecklenburg School system after 37 years as a teacher and later a Curriculum Specialist supervising and managing business teachers in the high schools of Charlotte. Also, he was a member of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by a son, John Milton Bunch Jr. (Kathy) of Tampa, Fla.; one daughter, Amy Fink (Dan) of Charlotte; three grandchildren, Jacob Sellinger of California, John M. “Jack” Bunch III and Savannah Bunch, both of Florida, and his devoted friend, companion and confidant, Claudia Wallace of Charlotte.
In addition to his wife and parents, John was preceded in death by two sisters, Hannah Bunch Tucker and Sue Bunch Pearce.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2020, at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville with Rev. Dr. Matthew Brown officiating.
Memorials may be made to South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church and online condolences may be made to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com.
Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.