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 asclass 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 LawSchool where he received the American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Lawand 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 Houseof 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 toMargaret 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. Havingonly 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.