Frederick Ernest Bunker passed away on September 20, 2024, at the age of 98 with his children at his side. He would have loved to live to be 100. He was born in 1926 in New York City to German and Finnish immigrants who met while working at the estate of musical composer Ira Gershwin. His father, who came to America at age 16, was a chauffeur and his mother, who came to America at age 19, a housemaid. Fred was their only child. Fred grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. At 6 years old while playing with BB guns with the richer kids who also lived on the Lovejoy estate, a BB ricocheted off a tree and hit him in his left eye. A six hour surgery was unsuccessful in saving the eye but despite his one regret of not being allowed to join WWII because of this, he never let it negatively impact his life. Fred attended Clemson from 1946 to 1948. In 1948, he answered an ad for a job he saw on a billboard on campus. He contacted them and was accepted. The job was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fred hitchhiked from Clemson to Baton Rouge and upon arriving, he looked for a boarding house in which to live. He sent word to his parents by letter to tell them where he was and what he was doing with his life. He met his wife, Ida, in Baton Rouge in the spring of 1948, at Playcations, a dance place. They were married within 10 months of meeting one another on January 2, 1949. They had 4 children.
Fred converted to Catholicism from Lutheran on April 18, 1987. He and Ida were devout Catholics who could not be swayed against their faith by anyone, and he was never without his St. Christopher pendant around his neck. He was an usher for many years at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. He was also a very proud member of Knights of Columbus, St. Thomas More Co 5530.
Fred was the salt of the earth. Anyone would be hard pressed to find a more honorable, honest, sincere, trustworthy, positive, always do the right thing man on this earth. Well into his career at Barnard & Burk assigned to the Ethyl Corp., an article for the company had this to say about him, “If you were a general and the enemy was attacking your left flank, Fred Bunker is the man you would have defending it." Another employee said, "Fred Bunker always seems to come up with solutions before anyone realizes there was a problem." And another said, "He does excellent work. You can't say enough good things about him. He's cooperative, dependable, and never seems to lose his self composure." His family wholeheartedly agrees. At Ethyl, Fred primarily did design and layout work for chemical plants. He was also responsible for the preparation of engineering drawings used by Ethyl in piping, mechanical, instrumentation, and other disciplines. Before working at Barnard & Burk in 1952, he was a piping designer for the Austin Co., Freeport, Texas. He also served with Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. as a draftsman and the Jones & Laughlin Supply Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a draftsman designer.
He said in September of 2024 at the age of 98, “I had a good life, a good marriage and 4 beautiful children.” He also said at that time, “One of the greatest joys of my life was always having a dog.”
Fred is preceded in death by his wife of almost 68 years, Ida Bunker, his parents, Ernest and Aina Bunker; a granddaughter, Stacy Girod, and many beloved dogs including one very special golden retriever/lab named Jackson. Fred is survived by his children: Linda Jones (Jerry), Susan Bunker, Robert Bunker (Jodie), Becky Green (Tony); his grandchildren: Steven Jones (Heather), Cammie Wright (Sam), Angie Piper (Jesse), Tracy Heard, Paige Starns (Brandon), Brooke Green; his great grandchildren: Noel Bruner (Cory), Eleanore Jones, Sadie Piper, Lily Piper, Joseph Girod, Joshua Girod, Jonathan Girod, Aliah Heard, Ethan Freyder, Nathan Badeaux, Dylan Badeaux, Rhett Starns; his great great grandchildren: Rivers Bruner, Marigny Bruner, Ivan Carrillo and last but not least his faithful and loyal Golden Retriever, Hammer.
Pallbearers will be Bob Bunker, Steve Jones, Jerry Jones, Tony Green and Brandon Starns.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70815 on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA. 70815.
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