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Eugene and Mary Elizabeth Bunting, devoted couple

June 19, 2018

Eugene “Gene” and Mary Gray Bunting, lifelong Selbyville residents, crossed over the river into the arms of their Savior within 10 hours of each other last week. They were both 90. Mary passed on the evening of Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md. Hours later, on the morning of Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at his home in Selbyville, without earthly word of his wife’s death, Gene responded to the call and followed her to heaven to continue their love story from their 72 years of marriage. 

Mary, born Feb. 25, 1928, the daughter of the late Hon. Everett Mitchell and Annie (Grise) Gray, was a beloved, nurturing homemaker and devout Christian. Gene, born March 6, 1928, of the late Hon. Clayton A. Bunting and Fanny Elizabeth (Burrows) Bunting, was a retired nurseryman, former president and owner of Buntings’ Nurseries Inc. and Peninsula Nurseries Inc. Gene and Mary met in elementary school, fell in love, and never parted. Both graduated from Selbyville High School and attended Goldey-Beacom Business College. Gene also attended Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, W.Va. They married Oct. 14, 1946. 

They were lifelong, conservative Republicans. Gene served as Sussex County Chairman of the Republican Party, 1966-68; Delaware State Republican Party Chairman, 1969-72; and Delaware Secretary of State, 1969-72. Gene’s father, Clayton, who passed down the family business and legacy for public service to his son, served as commissioner of the State Highway Department during the construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, sat on the Delaware State Board of Education, served in the Delaware State Senate, 1941-49, and was president pro tempore, 1944-49. Mary’s father, Everett, served as Delaware House Representative 1946-48.

Gene was a 33rd Degree Master Mason, A.F. & A.M., of the Doric Lodge, Millville. He served stints as president of multiple organizations: Selbyville Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow; Eastern Regional Nurserymen’s Association; Fruit Tree Growers Association of America and the American Association of Nurserymen, the premier representative body in the industry, where he presided over the Nursery Industry Political Action Committee, and as chairman of the AAN Legislative Committee. His tenure included working closely with First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, launching her National Beautification Program. Additionally, he was a Baltimore Trust Company (PNC Bank) trustee and served on the executive committee.

Gene and Mary were covenant members of Peninsula Community Church in Selbyville, where they were led by God to donate the land on Cypress Road where the church is located. They were senior honorary members of the Sussex Pines Country Club in Georgetown, and were longtime members of the Island Country Club in Marco Island, Fla., where they spent 30 years of winter enjoyment in retirement.

They are survived by four children: daughter Helen B. McCool (Ron) of Georgetown, Clayton E. Bunting Esq. (Debbie) of Georgetown, Rachel B. Marcus of Las Vegas, Nev., and Mary Jean Gleichman (Jeff) of Sammamish, Wash; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Mary was predeceased by two brothers, Madison M. Gray (Catherine), and Hon. George Edward Gray (Anna Lee), and is survived by a sister, Geraldine Stevens (Fred) of Selbyville. Gene was the sole issue survivor, being predeceased by four siblings who died at very young ages.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 26, at 1 p.m., at Peninsula Community Church, 28574 Cypress Road, Selbyville.  A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., prior to the service, at Peninsula Community Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in their memory to Peninsula Community Church Inc., 28574 Cypress Road, Selbyville, DE 19975. 

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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