Thornton Bunner

Thornton Valentine "Curly" Bunner, 88, passed away Sept. 17, 2008, of natural causes at his home in Whitefish and is now with his Lord and Savior.

Curly was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Eureka to Jenny and Frank Bunner. He had one sister and many step siblings. He was raised in Eureka and Stryker, where he received his education.

Curly enlisted in the Navy in 1938. While home on leave, he married Ardita Adina Creon on July 14, 1944. Together they raised four children. The family enjoyed Navy life and was stationed in Japan, California and Helena for recruiting and Guam. Curly was also on Midway for a year. He was finally stationed in Virginia, where he retired from the Navy on June 15, 1959. He then went to work for the Department of the Navy, ONI, in the Pentagon. He was there until 1975.

He and Adina returned home to Whitefish, where he built their dream log home, their "Dunrovan." He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor and had Pearl Harbor Survivor 00l plates proudly displayed on his pickup

Curly was an avid fisherman, huckleberry picker and hunter. He loved the outdoors. When he could no longer be in the great outdoors, he enjoyed the hummingbirds at his kitchen window and the deer, bear and moose at his backdoor.

He made friends all over the world and enjoyed attending Pearl Harbor Survivor reunions until he could no longer attend.

Curly was preceded in death by his parents, sister and grandson Patrick Kay, of New York.

He is survived by his loving bride of 64 years, Adina, of Whitefish; daughter Patricia Kay and family, of New York; son Ronald Bunner, of Whitefish; daughter Nadina Jeanne and husband Terry and family, of Virginia; daughter Cher McLean and husband Tim, of Kalispell; 11 grandchildren; and many great grandchildren.

Curly has been cremated and a memorial will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, after the family arrives. There will be a memorial notice at a later date.