Dr. George Edwin Bunce

1932 - 2026

Dr. George Edwin Bunce

December 13, 1932 - February 10, 2026

George Edwin Bunce of Blacksburg, Va., passed away at the Kroontje Center at Warm Hearth Village on February 10, 2026, at the age of 93. Ed was born in Nashville, Tenn., on December 13, 1932, to the late Florence and William Bunce. He attended VPI, completing a BS in Forestry in 1954, and an MS in Biochemistry and Nutrition in 1956. He then received a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of of Wisconsin-Madison in January 1961. Ed and his wife Jo Ellen Wilson met as college students, and were married in the summer of 1955. They soon had two daughters, Linda in 1958, and Amy in 1960. He always said he could never have found a better woman than Jo and remained besotted 70 years later. She was the love of his life and his rock, especially over his last years as he suffered diminishing health and memory.

Ed was an active duty officer in the US Medical Service Corps from August 1956 to May 1965, stationed first at the US Army Medical Research Lab in Denver, Colo., and then at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also served in Brazil and Myanmar, remaining in the active reserve until 1980, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

He accepted a faculty position as professor of biochemistry at Virginia Tech in 1965. He worked in this department until 1995, retiring as Professor Emeritus. He then became the Director of Health Professionals Advising until 2003, advising premed students. Ed was a gifted and dedicated teacher, able to explain complex ideas in ways that could be understood, trying to help students see the beauty and promise of science. He was always willing to engage with students and cheer their successes. He was still receiving notes from former students the Christmas before he died. He especially loved getting to know and make welcome the many foreign students that came through the biochem department.

Ed's research was in the area of nutrition and disease. He participated in studies that led to use of magnesium supplements to prevent kidney stones, helped to establish the essential nutrients for slowing macular degeneration, and participated in the discovery of the role of zinc for efficient labor and delivery, among other advances. He believed in the power of reason and research to solve problems and make the world a better place.

Ed and Jo loved to travel, and visited many countries for work and leisure. But above all, he loved the beach, especially Holden Beach, N.C., where he spent many happy days with family. He enjoyed running when younger and played tennis until he was 91, forming strong friendships on the course and courts. Ed was active in the community, serving on the Board of the Free Clinic of New River Valley, the Friends Council of Planned Parenthood and the Board of Trustees of the Warm Hearth Foundation. He formed a local chapter of Amnesty International. He loved music his whole life and had a wonderful, sweet tenor voice. He sang in a barbershop quartet, bedtime songs to his kids, in the church choir, community chorales and musicals, and most recently with the Warm Hearth Singers. He lived in the words of one his granddaughters, "a lifetime of being kind, curious and generous." He was so loved and will be missed.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Randy Urick. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jo Ellen Bunce of Blacksburg, Va.; his daughters, Linda Bunce (Michael Vincent) of W.V., Amy Urick of MT, three grandchildren, Callie (Sam) Simkoff, Anna (Dave) Duski, Will (Elizabeth ) Vincent; and six great-grandchildren, Hazel, Eliza, and August Simkoff, Eden and Holden Duski and Birdie Vincent.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Karr Center at Warm Hearth Village on February 28, from 2 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Dr Bunce asked that donations be given in his memory to either CharityvisionInternational, Inc., www.charityvision.net, or the Center for Victims of Torture, www.cvt.org.