Bernice Joyce Bunch

Bernice “Joyce” Bunch, née Winscott, of Columbia, Missouri passed away peacefully of natural causes on September 29, 2024. Joyce was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 2, 1931, and graduated from Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School in St. Louis County, Missouri, in June, 1949, where among other areas she demonstrated passions for music and field hockey. Joyce married her high school sweetheart Gaylord “Gayl” Bunch in Rock Hill, Missouri (St. Louis County) in December, 1949. She is survived by her sons Stephen and Paul, and their eight grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Once her children were older, Joyce became Secretary for the Germanic & Slavic languages department at the University of Missouri in 1972, followed by a long stint as an Executive Staff Assistant in the Office of the Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1989 she became the House Manager for the University President’s house at Providence Point. This experience led to her tenure as the Mansion Director for Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan and his wife and later U.S. Senator, Jean Carnahan, from 1993 to 1998.

Joyce and Gayl were active members of Calvary and later Parkade Baptist Churches. Both were charter members of the Parkade church. Joyce was active in the choir and on numerous church committees, and from the early 1960s into the 2000s served as both pianist and organist for the Calvary and Parkade churches.

In her spare time and retirement Joyce enjoyed being with her family and especially grandchildren. She enjoyed home and interior decorating, entertaining, and surrounded herself in the home with fine music. On their property outside Columbia, she and Gayl both enjoyed their horses, dogs, and gardening. The couple traveled often in their senior years, including multiple trips and cruises to Europe and the Mediterranean.

A memorial service will be held by the Reverend Chris Cook at Parkade Baptist Church on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Fulton, Missouri, where she’ll rest next to her husband Gayl and parents O.A. and Bernice Winscott.