Gilbert E. Bunten

Mr. Gilbert E. Bunten, age 61, of Elizabethton, TN passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at his residence. A native of Carter County, he was the son of the late William G. Bunten and Mary Bunten, Elizabethton and his birth mother, Thelma Bowman Meddles of Ohio. Mr. Bunten was a U.S. Air Force veteran having served in Vietnam and Iraq Freedom. He retired from the U.S. Air National Guard after twenty-one years. He was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church and a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He loved his daughters and grandchildren, spending time with his family and enjoyed Sunday dinners at Ma Maws.In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his wife, Enrica “Rikki” Morgan Bunten; a step-daughter, Jennifer Davis and a brother, Roy Bowman. Those left to cherish his memory in addition to his mother include his stepmother, Mary Bunten, Elizabethton; two daughters, Windy Bunten and Heather Bunten, both of the home; grandchildren, Jada Bunten, Jaden Bunten and Jackson Bunten, all of Elizabethton; step-daughters, Bridget Simpson, Elizabethton and Jacque Caldwell, Florida; step-son, Greg Garritani, New York; step-grandchildren, Jordan McKinney, Myrtle Beach, SC, Tatum Street, Elizabethton, Kenedy Bacon and Trenedy Bacon, both of Texas and Nathan Davis, Florida; brothers, Walter Meddles and wife Jerri Lu and Mike Meddles, both of Ohio, Bill Bunten and wife Donna, Chattanooga, TN and Bradford Bunten and wife Jennie, Bluff City; and sisters, Deborah Daum and husband Steve; Ohio, Geneva Hoss and husband Jack, Margie Nelson and husband Jeff and Rebecca Bunten, all of Elizabethton. Many nieces and nephews also survive.A service to honor the life of Mr. Gilbert E. Bunten will be conducted at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, June 12, 2016 in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services with Rev. Jack Roddy and Rev. John Vance officiating. Music will be under the direction of Becky Bunten and Inez Johnson. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. on Sunday prior to the funeral service or at the residence of his mother, Mary Bunten at other times.Graveside service and interment will be conducted at 2:30 P.M. Monday, June 13, 2016 in Mountain Home National Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Brad Bunten, Bill Bunten, Gerod Bunten, Jeff Nelson, Steve Grindstaff and Dan McQueen. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Hoss, Jeffery Nelson, Billy Cole, Roger Bunten, Allen Simerly and Rev. Bruce Hendrich. Military honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Those attending the graveside service will meet at the funeral home at 1:30 P.M. on Monday to go in procession to the cemetery.Read Obituary