George Howard Bunting led with integrity

The passing of George Bunting leaves a void in Sussex County and across Delaware. For decades, residents knew him as a neighbor, a veteran, a businessman and a steady presence in the life of our community while he served as state legislator for the Rehoboth Beach area for nearly 30 years. 

As detailed in his obituary in the Cape Gazette, Bunting’s life was shaped early by discipline and duty. A graduate of Charlotte Hall Military Academy, he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, earning the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. 

The sense of responsibility he brought home with him defined his public career. Bunting first served in the Delaware House of Representatives before moving to the Delaware Senate. His tenure was marked not by theatrics but by persistence. He understood that progress in Dover often comes from relationships, compromise and an unglamorous willingness to do the work. These were things he learned from Sen. Richard Cordrey, who took him aside soon after he was elected to the General Assembly and told him, “If you want to be a success here, you have to learn to compromise.”

One of the most visible symbols of his commitment is the Indian River Inlet bridge. The span stands not only as a feat of engineering but as a testament to Bunting’s determination to secure safer infrastructure for the region he loved.  

In an era when public service can seem polarized and impersonal, George Bunting represented something steadier. He believed government worked best when elected officials worked together instead of against each other. Sussex County has lost a faithful advocate and a humble leader, but his example remains: Lead with integrity, and never forget the community that entrusted you with its voice.