Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, March 17, 2004

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Donald Henry Bunt
Mel Gallup Award winner

     LANCASTER Ñ Donald Bunt of North Road died peacefully in his sleep on
Friday, March 12, while waiting for family to arrive to help him celebrate
his 86th birthday.
     Born on March 15, 1918, in New York, N.Y., Mr. Bunt was the son of
Edna Seely Bunt of New York City, and Harry Bunt of Liskeard, Cornwall,
England. He attended school in New York as a youngster, until his family
moved to White Plains, N.Y., where his father started a commercial
construction business.
     Mr. Bunt was graduated from White Plains High School in January of
1935, in the midst of the depression years, and immediately began working
at the Royal-Globe Insurance Companies in New York City.
     In 1940 he met his future wife, Sylvia Ruland, on a blind date.
Drafted into the Army in 1941, he and Sylvia became engaged, and on Feb.13,
1942, Lieutenant Bunt and Sylvia Ruland were married. They lived at Old
Silver Beach, Cape Cod, Mass., while Don was stationed at Camp Edwards. In
Dec. of 1944, Lt. Bunt was shipped out to the island of Moritai in the
South Pacific, and was later in the Philippines, where he spent the
remainder of the war.
     Returning in January 1946, he resumed his position with the
Royal-Globe, where he worked until his retirement in 1982 Ñ a 47-year
career, during which time he rose to the position of Asst. Vice-President.
He was on many insurance boards and committees, frequently as a consultant.
     In 1984, he and Sylvia moved from Ridgefield, Conn. to Lancaster,
where they lived on the North Road. Both became active volunteers for Weeks
Hospital. Mr. Bunt logged-in over 7500 hours as a volunteer, beginning and
overseeing a program for the medical center, the Pharmaceutical Assistance
Program. In tribute for this work, he won the Mel Gallup Award in 1997.
After SylviaÕs death in 1998, he continued to go daily to this ÒjobÓ, which
he loved. His co-workers were part of his extended family, and when his
health dictated that he could no longer do this work, it was this wonderful
group whom he missed being with every day.
     Mr. Bunt had several hobbies, which kept him busy over the yearsÑhe
loved to build furniture, refinish furniture, cane chairs, and even remodel
rooms in houses they lived in.
     Family members include his daughter, Pam Remick of Lancaster; sons,
Gregory H. Bunt of Thornwood, N.Y. and Jonathan D. Bunt of New Milford,
Conn.; four granddaughters; three grandsons and one great-granddaughter,
all of whom will miss this good and gentle man.
     A memorial service in celebration of his life is being planned and
will be announced in this paper at a later date. It is expected that it
will take place in two-three weeks.
     In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice
of the Lancaster Area (278 Main St., Lancaster 03584) which cared so well
for Sylvia, or to the Weathervane Theatre, which he looked forward to
attending each summer (PO Box 107, Whitefield, NH 03598).

Julia E. Eastman

Retired to Lancaster

     LANCASTER Ñ Miss Julia E. Eastman, 85, of Main Street, died on
Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at Weeks Medical Center.
     She was born in Poland, Me. on August 31, 1918, the daughter of Ernest
and Eva (Hicks) Eastman and had lived in Columbia and Millsfield.
     Julia moved to New York and worked as a secretary until her retirement
and then took up residence in Lancaster.
     The family includes her sister-in-law, Pauline Eastman of Eliot, Me.;
seven nephews, David Eastman of Big Lake, Ala., Robert Eastman and wife
Cheryl of West Stewartstown, Roger Eastman and wife Elizabeth of Milan,
Richard Eastman and wife Waneta of Colebrook, Donald Eastman and wife
Doreen of Jennings, Fla., Gary Eastman of So. Berwick, Me., Bruce Eastman
of Kittery, Me.; a niece, Joanne Tardiff of Berlin; and her good friend,
Marilyn Burke of Lancaster. Her parents and three brothers, Walter, Cecil,
and Harold all died previously.
     Visiting hours were held on Saturday afternoon, March 13, at the
Bailey Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held in the spring. An
announcement will appear at that time.

Mildred I. Gonyer

Mother, grandmother, knitter

     STARK Ñ Mildred I. (Parks) Gonyer, 87, of 3 Corkum Road, died on
Thursday evening, March 11, 2004, at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster.
     Mrs. Gonyer was born in Lancaster on January 13, 1917, the daughter of
Arthur and Bertha (Rogers) Parks. She lived in Lancaster until moving to
Stark 42 years ago.
     She was a member of St. PaulÕs Episcopal Church in Lancaster. She
enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and watching soap operas.
     The family includes a daughter, Sally E. Maurath of Belmont; two sons,
James W. Gonyer of Ridgeway, Va., and Harold W. Gonyer of Stark; six
grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Glenwood Parks of
Florida and Arthur Parks Jr. of Groveton; nieces and nephews. Her husband,
Henry Gonyer, died previously (in 1986).
     Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 16 at the Bailey Funeral
Home in Lancaster. Burial will be in the Summer Street Cemetery in
Lancaster.
     The family requests that donations in Mrs. GonyerÕs memory be made to
the Stark Fire Department and/or the Groveton Ambulance Corps.

Olive Houghtaling

Granite State native

     MANCHESTER, Conn. Ñ Olive (Wheeler) Houghtaling, 93, of Manchester,
Conn., the widow of Archie Houghtaling, died on Thursday, March 11,2004
after a brief illness.
     She was born on February 26, 1911 in East Stratford, N.H.
     Her family includes her sister-in-law Dot Wheeler of Stark, N.H, the
widow of Harold Wheeler and many nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Harold
Wheeler and Harlan Wheeler and two sisters, Winifred Ledder and Bertina
Wheeler, died previously.
     Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Connecticut alongside her
husband Archie. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be at the
convenience of the family.

Harold Palin

Was veteran, plumber

     LANCASTER Ñ Harold Palin, 80, died on Thursday morning March 11, 2004,
at the
     Country Village Health Care Center, Lancaster.
     Mr. Palin was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 9, 1923, the son of
Morris and Anna (Hoffman) Palin.
     For many years he resided in Rockaway Beach, N.Y., and worked as a
self-employed plumber most of his life. For the last 10 years of employment
he was a building inspector for the City of New York. During World War II
he served with the Army in England and France. He resided the last two
years in New Hampshire and enjoyed attending the Fair, birdwatching, and
woodworking.
     He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Jewish War Veterans.
     Family members include his daughter, Linda Rod and husband Carl of
Jefferson; a son, Mitchell Palin of River Edge, N.J.; and three
grandchildren, Lisa Palin, Matthew Palin and Faith Sweren and her husband
Rob.
     Burial was held on March 12 in the New Montefiore Cemetery in West
Babylon, Long Island, N.Y.

Richard Ray Summa

Musician, hiker, volunteer

     LANCASTER Ñ Richard Ray Summa of Lancaster, died on March 13, 2004 at
Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster, following complications from chronic
lymphocytic leukemia.
     Mr. Summa was born in Rockwell City, Iowa, on August 17, 1926, a son
of Dewey and Neva (Reed) Summa.
     He graduated from Rockwell City High School and received a bachelor's
degree in business administration from Drake University in 1949, following
two years of service in the Navy during World War II.
     Before moving to New Hampshire in 1989, he lived in Paxton, Mass., and
was employed for 37 years at the former State Mutual Life Assurance Co. in
Worcester, Mass., where he retired in 1985 as Vice President, Insurance
Planning. While employed at State Mutual, he earned the designations of
Chartered Life Underwriter in 1966, Fellow Life Management Institute in
1977, and a master's degree in financial services from The American College
of Bryn Mawr in 1983. Following retirement, he continued his education and
received the Life Office Management Association (LOMA) affiliation in 1987.
     He was an active musician and tenor soloist, participating in various
choirs and choruses during his lifetime. He was also an avid hiker, and
achieved membership in the Appalachian Mountain Club N.H. 4,000-Footer Club
in 1973. He was an active volunteer with several organizations, and had
been a member of the Board of Directors of the Montachusett Girl Scout
Council in Worcester. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in
Worcester, where he had been a Trustee, served 11 years as co-chair of the
Music Committee, and was a 40-year member of the Wesley Choir.
     Family members include his wife of 54 years, Yvonne (Westphal) Summa
of
     Lancaster; daughters, Lori L. Summa of Houston, Tex., and Martha Summa
     Chadwick and her husband Robert of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; a brother,
     Larry Summa, of Port Jefferson, N.Y.; brother-in-law and
sister-in-law, Richard and Donna Westphal of Virginia Beach, Va.
     His parents, brother Ralph Summa and sister Marian Lou Summa had all
died previously.
     There will be no calling hours. Memorial services will be held at a
later date in Worcester, Mass. and Lancaster. Memorial contributions may be
made to Christ United Methodist Church, Church St., Lancaster N.H. 03584 or
to Music Program, Wesley United Methodist Church,114 Main St., Worcester,
MA 01608.
     Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home,
Lancaster.