Donald G. Gunther, retired entomologist
Donald George Gunther, 86, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. He was born Jan. 16, 1929, in Bridgeport, Conn., son of the late George Frances and Anne (Fox) Gunther.
A Navy veteran, Mr. Gunther graduated from the University of Connecticut at Bridgeport and did graduate study at Clemson University.
He enjoyed a 38-year career as an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from which he retired in 1988 after field appointments in Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. He was a member of the Society of Nematologists, the Knights of Columbus, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After his retirement, Mr. Gunther led whale and dolphin trips organized by the Fisherman's Wharf Cruises & Fishing Center in Lewes for eight seasons, earning him the title of "Dolphin Don."
Before moving to Lewes, he was a long-time resident of Troy, N.Y. In Troy he was an active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church. He was also involved in and very supportive of youth sports. He coached and was director of umpires at Spring Little League Baseball and was very involved with the Troy Youth Hockey Association.
Mr. Gunther will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Joan (Bennett) Gunther of Lewes; and by his five children and their spouses: Catherine Gunther Kodat and Alex Kodat, of Portland, Ore., Timothy Anthony Gunther, of Cary, N.C., Marianne Gunther and Gary Chin of Queens, N.Y., Joseph Michael Gunther and Suzanne Anslow Gunther of Guilderland, N.Y., and Daniel George Gunther and Michele Yanak Gunther of Akron, Ohio. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Axel, Dexter, and Madeleine Kodat; Alyssa and Amanda Gunther; Audrey, Emily, and Andrew Gunther; Simone Bouchey and Rebecca Chin; and Henry, Michael, and Chloe Gunther. He will be fondly remembered by extended family members Cornelius Bennett, Marie Altieri, Barbara Ciotti, Irene McNeil, Carleen Gunther Kunkel and Peter Kunkel, Fred and Christina Gunther, Gwenellen Gunther Summ and Jack Summ, Kathy Gunther Smith and Jim Smith, along with many loving and beloved nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m., at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 18, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; St. Jude The Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE 19958; Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.
Please visit Mr. Gunther's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
