Charles W. "Bunny" Gunn Jr.

GUNN, Charles W. Jr. "Bunny", went home to be with the Lord at sunset on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary Wilson Sheffield of Crewe. He will be greatly missed by his children, Charles W. Gunn III and his wife, Beverly, of Hopewell, and Annhorner Truitt and her husband, Craig, of Richmond. He is also survived by his sister, Lois Cotten and her family of Tallahassee, Florida. He was born July 31, 1922 in Tallahassee, Florida. At an early age, his sister called him "Bunny". This term of endearment has followed him since. His career began by selling pecans from his parents' trees and working as a teenage "extra" in Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan films. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII where he fought in the North Atlantic, Caribbean and South Pacific. He attended John B. Stetson University and Florida State University. He began working for "the telephone company" in Florida, then was transferred to South Boston, Va. and ultimately to Lexington. He worked there until he earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1958. He settled with his family in Lexington where he established a law practice. From 1962-63, he was a judge in Buena Vista Municipal Court. "Bunny" Gunn was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Lexington, Buena Vista, Bedford and Rocky Mount, and the counties of Rockbridge, Bedford and Franklin from 1963 to 1978. During his tenure, he served on the Appropriations, Health Welfare and Institutions, Roads and Internal Navigation Committees, and chaired the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. In 1979, he was named Director of Administrative Services for the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. After his retirement, he was appointed member of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Board. He was a faithful champion of the physically and mentally disabled, devoting his life to "walking his talk" both publically and privately. He was humbled to be recognized by the Virginia Association for Retarded Children for "outstanding efforts to guarantee basic human rights for all" and the Virginia Association for Mental Health for "courageous service to the mentally ill". He served in numerous church and civic leadership positions including being president of the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce, the Lexington Lifesaving and First Aid Crew, Jaycees, and the Rockbridge County-Buena Vista Bar Association. He was a Member of Council of Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, the American Legion, and the Hickory Hill Gun Club. He chaired the Board of Stewards of Trinity United Methodist Church, was president of Methodist Men, and chairman of the pastoral committee. He taught Sunday School for 20 years and loved serving as a substitute "itinerant lay preacher" at numerous small churches. For over a decade, he was an enthusiastic member of a small group through Needle's Eye Ministries, and, more recently, a joyful member of Third Presbyterian Church in Richmond. He was a proud member of the Richmond Chapter/ U.S. Navy, Armed Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine. Throughout life, he worked to demonstrate his love for the Lord, for his family, neighbors and others. He had a kind heart for the hurting, a courageous voice for those who could not be heard, a determination to always do the right thing, and a gracious smile for all. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, at Third Presbyterian Church, 600 Forest Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23226. There will be a private burial, followed by a public service of thanksgiving at 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, at Third Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Families of the Wounded Fund, c/o Village Bank, P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Va. 23113 or to Good Samaritan Ministries, 2307 Hull Street Rd., Richmond, Va. 23224.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.