Judith K. Bunting

Judith K. Bunting died at her home in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, on October 5, at the age of 87.

Judith Abbe Kluck, known as Judy, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 17, 1937, to restaurant owner Andrew Kluck and his wife, Frances Seymour Kluck. She grew up in towns southwest of Chicago, with stops in Colorado and Arizona to treat her brother Jerry's asthma.

Judy attended high school at Milwaukee--Downer Seminary in Wisconsin, where she played basketball and won a citywide free throw championship. Later, as a young woman, she demonstrated her skill as a trap shooter, hitting 25 consecutive clay pigeons at South Shore Country Club in Chicago, earning an award from Winchester.

Judy studied at the University of Colorado but did not graduate. She returned to Illinois and got a job at the sporting goods store Abercrombie & Fitch in downtown Chicago. In 1960, she married Frank Bunting of Belvidere, Nebraska, with whom she had worked at the store. The couple had three children: daughter, Abbe (1962), and sons, Andrew (1964) and Anthony "Tony" (1966). The family lived in LaGrange, Illinois; Santa Rosa, California; and on the childhood farm of her husband, outside of Belvidere, Nebraska.

After she divorced in 1978, Judy moved with her sons to Manhattan, Illinois, and embarked on a career as a librarian. She worked as a library assistant at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, where she earned her degree at the age of 47-one of her proudest accomplishments. In 1984, she became director of the Manhattan Public Library and oversaw its growth and expansion into a new building. She held the post for 16 years and retired to Haddon Heights, New Jersey, in 2000, to be closer to family.

Judy's life was rich and vibrant and filled with many interests. She loved nature and cared deeply about its welfare. During her California days, some of her happiest times included taking her family to the ocean-she dreamed of one day becoming a marine biologist-and on camping trips. While living in Manhattan, Illinois, she began the town's curbside recycling program and remained a committed recycler for the rest of her life. Her love and knowledge of plants was well-known. She planted gardens at her homes in Manhattan and Haddon Heights and worked endlessly to keep them beautiful and thriving. In retirement, she assisted her son Andrew, a horticulturist, at his business, Fine Garden Creations, in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Judy enjoyed reading, going to movies, working on crossword puzzles, watching baseball and spending time with her many friends. She struggled with health issues late in her life, but they did not diminish her personality, spirit, and sense of humor. She looked forward to voting in this year's presidential election and hoped to see her friend Ruth Mundt reach her 100th birthday this coming May.

Judy was a loving and supportive mother to her kids, and grandmother to her one grandchild, Winnie. They brought immense joy to her life, and she was proud of everything they did. Her many pets were not far behind in her affection. Throughout her life, she included dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits as members of her family. A chocolate poodle, Charley (1968-1985), who moved with her from California to Nebraska to Illinois, held a special place in her heart.

Judy spent her final days in the company of her children and her cat Teenie, and died peacefully on a Saturday morning at her home. She is survived by her daughter Abbe Harms (Haddon Heights, New Jersey); sons Andrew Bunting (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) and Tony Bunting (Chicago, Illinois); and granddaughter Winnie Harms (Amsterdam, Netherlands). Contributions in Judy's name can be made to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).