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In Loving Memory Of
William Keck Bunner, 60
of Daybrook, died Wednesday January 27, 2010, at his home on the 200 year old
Keck farm in Daybrook.
William was born September 2, 1949, in
Fairmont
,
WV
, the eldest son of Scott Randolph Bunner and Virginia Lenore Keck Bunner.
A 1966 graduate of Clay - Battelle High School, Blacksville, WV, where he
distinguished himself with many awards and leadership roles such as class
president, West Virginia Golden Horseshoe winner, Valedictorian and the
first recipient of the WV Future Farmers of America State Farmer Degree under
agriculture teacher Robert C. Beach, he went on to study agricultural
engineering and accounting at West Virginia University, Morgantown, where he
graduated with High Honors in 1970. Bill's involvement in FFA, as well as
parental influences, guided him to an active political life.
While at WVU he played chess and bridge in his spare time. His employment during
this time period included as a machinist's assistant at the Rivesville Power
Plant, then Monongahela Power, now Allegheny Energy, and as a statistician for
the WVU Sports Information Service. He compiled information and edited films
from Mountaineer home football games.
Bill served as a Director of the Clay District Fair Association, planted 1500
pine trees on the family farm and raised cattle, sheep and hogs, while working
for the Monongalia County Board of Education in maintenance and as a substitute
high school social studies, math and English/reading teacher. An accomplished
musician, he studied trumpet with Ray DeVincent and theory with Phil
Faini. Though self taught, he also managed to teach guitar to students
during summer months.
While a junior in high school, he embarked on his 45 year career as a ghost
writer. He also was employed as cashier at the Stashaway in Cassville.
Involved in local Democrat Party campaigns and as President of the Monongalia
County Young Democrats, he earned a Masters in History from WVU in 1973.
During this time he was involved in local political events, running
unsuccessfully (he only spent the filing fees) for Monongalia Board of Education
and West Virginia House of Delegates and founding the Monongalia County
Rural Alliance. He held numerous state leadership positions with Young
Democrats.
Unable to get a full time teaching position with the Monongalia County Board of
Education, he enrolled in
WVU
Law
School
where he received the American
Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law
and was a member of Phi
Alpha Delta Legal
Fraternity. He seldom attended law school classes, finding local political
issues and targeting for Jay Rockefeller more rewarding. He served as Map Room mineral
researcher for coal seams under Assessor John W. Pyles and as research law clerk
for the
West Virginia
"Ailes Commission," which dealt with mining's effect on
West Virginia
waters. He wrote
West Virginia
's first water quality regulations, while a student under Patrick McGinley, WVU
Professor of Coal Industry and Local Government.
He joined the American Bar Association and the sections on Business and Natural
Resources. Bill was named to Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who
in
America
for most of 25 years. He was also named to Who's Who In
West Virginia
Politics.
In 1982, William Bunner was elected to the Monongahela Soil Conservation Board
on a write in campaign. He continued to be an elected member of the MCD
Board for 26 years.
He served as adviser to the West Run Watershed Improvement District, the Dunkard
Creek Watershed Association and the Deckers Creek Association. He treated his
soil district service as a full time job for several years and participated in
several National Association of Conservation District events, receiving many
awards for his service and initiative. Rather self effacing and passive in
manner, Bill sought conciliation in most matters.
As Supervisor he was named to the Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority and
served several terms as Chair, another full time job; he was heavily involved
with the writing of the Monongalia County Solid Waste Plan. Though honored for
his Conservation service, he took great pride in establishing awards in others'
names and for others involved in conservation policy matters. Bill's efforts
have been largely unrecognized and are known by few except for the handful
of living supervisors who have served with him on the MCD.
Bill presented Congressional testimony before the US House of
Representatives on
Abandoned
Mine
Lands
funding and other agricultural issues. He spoke on agriculture and land policy
at the University of Colorado College of Engineering.
Bill loved baseball, music - especially
Americana
music, and collegiate and pro football, as well as keeping up with myriad
professional publications.
William was preceded in death by his parents and by two infant brothers, Scott
Randolph Bunner, Jr. and Rawlins Harding Bunner.
William is survived by his sister and 24/7 caregiver for 41 months, Patricia
Andrea Bunner. Also surviving are his beloved feline friends and companions:
Tommy Quartz, Hootie, Jossette, Amos, Mariah, Muckle, Sweet Caroline, Sassafras,
Myrtle, Semmiramus,
Salem
, Midnight, Chloe, Sophie, Natasha, Pywacket, Sabrina, Snowball, Spicy Bits,
Ezra, Spooky and Sweeney Todd.
Throughout his life, William was a strong believer in the power of anonymous
giving. As a Celebration of Life for Bill, 2000 perennials, shrubs and fruit
trees will be planted on the 235 acre ancestral Keck farm, aka Antioch Farms, in
Daybrook.
Family and friends would like to extend their appreciation to Margaret
Albrink, M.D.(retired, WVU Medicine Dept. of Endocrinology), Michael Charles
Maroon, D.O. (Clark K. Sleeth Family Medicine Center) and Jan Care Ambulance
Service for their courtesy, compassion and continued care.
Of Lenni Lenape (Delaware Indian) descent, Bill dealt with complications from inherited
diabetes for 25 years. Bill had been unable to walk or get out of
his bed, except for ambulance transport, for 3 years. During the last year of
his life, he suffered from increasing vision problems and was unable to read,
except for the largest headlines in The Dominion Post. Bill
relied on his sister to read books and excerpts from his 70 some magazine and 8
newspaper subscriptions; he also listened to several audio books and music CDs
during his bed confinement.
A special thanks to Jonathan, nurse with Interim Health Care and DVMs Robert
Stewart and James M. Minger, neighbors Gail Berry and Roger Williams were
expressed by William during the last three hours of his life. Having
only been home for 2 weeks after a difficult 40 day stay at Ruby Memorial, Bill
unexpectedly early fulfilled his wish to die at home, among family and
friends.
Friends will be received
at the Owen-Neely Funeral Home in Blacksville, WV from 6-8 PM Friday.
Cremation services will follow.
You may send condolences
to the family at www.tennantfuneralhome.com.
Sign
Memorial Guestbook
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