Robert W. "Bob" Bunton

Robert (Bob) W. Bunton, 64, of Niceville, Florida, passed away February 23, 2004, after a four year battle with Lou Gehrig¹s disease, otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Bob was born in Fruitville, Florida, on August 2, 1939. As a boy, he had a fascination with air flight. He attended West Point (USMA), and while in New York, he met his future wife, Stephanie Valent. They were married upon his graduation. He was commissioned to the USAF. For his first assignment, he received his Master¹s degree from the University of Illinois in aerospace engineering. He was eventually stationed at Eglin AFB, and while there, he did his postgraduate work for his Doctorate at Auburn University. He and his wife settled on Okaloosa Island, where they raised their son, Jonny, and two daughters, Carolyn (Missy) and Susan. They spent 26 years there, and as soon as the last child left the nest, he and his wife decided a change would be nice and moved to California, Maryland. Here he worked at the Naval Air Test Center for 13 years. He then retired and moved to Niceville, Florida. He loved his work as a flutter expert so much so that upon his return to Niceville, he joined the ATAC group and worked with them for two years, until he was diagnosed with ALS. He loved bass fishing, growing prize- winning orchids, watching classic movies, reading, spending time with his grandchildren, and he especially loved long walks with his wife. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Stephanie; son, Jon Bunton and wife Miriam, of Tampa; daughters, Carolyn and husband, John Sekas, of Niceville, Susie and husband, James Dubben, of Niceville, and grandchildren, George, Stephanie and Brandi Sekas, Chloe and Stephen Dubben, and Ian Bunton; mother-in-law, Helen Valent; sister, Joan Elizabeth ''Betty'' Bailey and nephews, Sam and Steve Bailey. He was preceded in death by Kate and Harold Bunton, his mother and father, and brother, Harold Jerome Bunton. Visitation will be at the Heritage Gardens Funeral Home, located at 2201 N. Partin Drive in Niceville, on February 26, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be February 27, at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, located at 1200 Valparaiso Blvd., Niceville, beginning at 11a.m., with interment in Heritage Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the ALS Association, (888) 257-1717; or 5005 West Laurel Street, Suite ll0, Tampa, Florida 33607. The family would like to express their eternal gratitude to Ben and Shelly McKinnon and Rod and Rose Bartholomew, for their unselfish love and support, through the years, through this tough and trying stage of our lives. Pop, you will be missed and we love you so much.