Thomas Allen Bunch

Marion, Va.

Thomas Allen Bunch, age 70, passed away Friday, November 11, 2016.

Allen was born in Marion, Virginia, the beloved son of Thomas and Marguerite Dungan Bunch. He was educated in the schools of Smyth County, Virginia, and Baltimore County, Maryland. As a long haul truck driver, he travelled through all 48 states of the Mainland USA and all provinces of Canada. Allen was a devoted Teamster and organizer for workers’ rights. After seeing much of the natural beauty of North America he said that the Shenandoah Valley was unparalleled. Allen was a direct descendant of the Dungan family that migrated down the Great Wagon Road to the Seven Mile Ford area in 1770. He spent many childhood summers on the family farm with his grandmother Sue Anna Dungan and moved his family to the farm in 1985, taking over from his parents. A lifelong animal lover, moving to the farm made room for the many rescued and adopted dogs and cats he cared for over the years with his wife and children. Allen’s favorite place was to be at home reading, sharing good food and stories with family and friends. His great pride and joy were his daughters and their families.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Barbara Jo Bunch of Marion; daughter Heather Bunch and husband Bernard Gardner of Marion; daughter Amy Dehart, husband Keith and grandchildren, Keaton and Bekah, of Radford, Virginia; brother Steven (Tony) Bunch & wife Dorothy of Marion; sister Coby Bunch Simerly and husband Robert of Naples, Florida. Other survivors are cousins A.L. Dungan of Seven Mile Ford; Nancy Hart of Marion; Page Brickey Arnold of Saltville; Carolyn Dungan Woodrum of Winchester, Virginia; Gary Dungan of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Jimmy Dungan of Dayton, Ohio; Chuck Dungan of Sykesville, Maryland; nieces Deana Collier of Pompano Beach, Florida, and Laura Smith of Jacksonville, Florida.

The family offers special thanks to his caregivers Amy, Billie, Cherrie and Maicee, as well as Hospice of Southwest Virginia.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Allen’s life Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom located upstairs at 132 East Main Street, Marion, Virginia. Guests needing assistance please enter via the rear entrance from East Town Street.

Please bring photos or other mementos if you would like to share. A BBQ lunch will be served, and guests are welcome to bring sides.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Smyth County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1124, Marion VA 24354.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to serve the Bunch Family.