Bunzey, Kenneth R.
Birth
Kenneth R. Bunzey was born in West Berne. He was the son of the late Ethel and Ford Bunzey Sr. His siblings were:
- Emma Stevens of Knox, the wife of Raymond L. Stevens, and mother of Diane S. Stevens
- Ruby Simons of Schenectady
- Betty Bunzey of Florida
- Ralph Bunzey of Georgia.
Education
Military
Kenneth Bunzey served in the 104th Infantry Division of the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. The couple married in 1943, when Mr. Bunzey was on his first furlough. He landed in France a couple of days after D-Day, said Mrs. Bunzey. He was injured while crossing river, she said. "He was in the thick of things," she said. Mr. Bunzey would have been sent to Japan, if the atomic bomb didn't end the war, she said. He was stationed in California after the war. He was discharged in 1946.
Occupation
Kenneth Bunzey worked as a machinist in the large motors and generators division of the General Electric Company in Schenectady for over 30 years. He was a former fire chief for the Berne Volunteer Fire Company and a member of the rescue squad. The couple lived right across the street from the firehouse, his wife said. He was also a member of the Berne Masonic Lodge.
Marriage & Children
Kenneth Bunzey married in 1944, Bernice Shultes Bunzey, his wife of 59 years His children were:
- Barbara Rivenburgh and her husband, Steve, of Middleburg
- Karen Viviano and her husband, Charles, of Ravena
- Kenneth Bunzey and his wife Karen, of Berne;
Death
Kenneth R. Bunzey died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003, at the Albany Medical Center Hospital. He was 80.
Obituary
Kenneth R. Bunzey
BERNE — Kenneth R. Bunzey was a long-time resident of Berne who married his childhood sweetheart. He died Sunday, Feb. 9,2003, at the Albany Medical Center Hospital. He was 80.
"He was a wonderful father, husband and sportsman," said Bernice Shultes Bunzey, his wife of 59 years. Mr. Bunzey was born in West Berne. He was the son of the late Ethel and Ford Bunzey Sr.
"We were childhood sweethearts," said his wife. He was a basketball player in high school and she was a cheerleader. He served in the 104th Infantry Division of the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
The couple married in 1943, when Mr. Bunzey was on his first furlough. He landed in France a couple of days after D-Day, said Mrs. Bunzey. He was injured while crossinga river, she said. "He was in the thick of things," she said.
Mr. Bunzey would have been sent to Japan, if the atomic bomb didn't end the war, she said. He was stationed in California after the war. He was discharged in 1946. Mr. Bunzey worked as a machinist in the large motors and generators division of the General Electric Company in Schenectady for over 30 years.
He was a former fire chief for the Berne Volunteer Fire Company and a member of the rescue squad. The couple lived right across the street from the firehouse, his wife said. He was also a member of the Berne Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Bunzey was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berne and part of the church's council. He was also an associate member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Summerfield, Fla. where he lived until shortly before his death. The Bunzeys moved to Summerfield because of the high concentration of former Berne residents in the area.
"We moved to Summerfield because of the people not the place," said Mrs. Bunzey. "We have many friends in Florida." Before retiring, Mr. Bunzey never cooked, said his wife. "We would have lived on fried eggs," said his wife. After retiring, he became the cook of the house. "I never had it so good," said Mrs. Bunzey. "When I came home, he'd have dinner on the table."
Mr. Bunzey was also an avid bowler, who took part in three Florida leagues.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Barbara Rivenburgh and her husband, Steve, of Middleburg, and Karen Viviano and her husband, Charles, of Ravena; a son, Kenneth Bunzey and his wife Karen, of Berne; six grandchildren, Kevin and Todd Krause, Brenda McDermott, Bonnie Foland, Bradley Bouck and Kendall Bunzey; and six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Emma Stevens of Knox, Ruby Simons of Schenectady, Betty Bunzey of Florida; and one brother, Ralph Bunzey of Georgia.
His siblings, Mildred Labonowicz, Olive Rowe, Eva Mae Anderson,Morris Bunzey and Ford Bunzey Jr. died before him. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Helderberg Trail in Berne. There will be no calling hours. A graveside committal service will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berne or St. John's Lutheran Church in Summerfield, Fla. Arrangements were handled by Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, Altamont, NY. — W.M.L.
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