WILMINGTON — Our beloved father, Talmadge A. “Lonnie” Bunch, 79, passed peacefully into the sweet arms of Jesus, on May 17, 2022. He is predeceased by the love of his life, his wife of 56 years, Delores, and also his parents, James E. and Ruby T. Bailey. A true patriot in every way, he was the sole surviving son of his father, Talmadge A. Bunch, a Purple Heart recipient, who was killed in Guadalcanal before his birth.
Lonnie was born on March 4, 1943 in Rose Hill, NC. He was a 1961 graduate of Wallace-Rose Hill High School where he was a stellar athlete and star pitcher, as a member of the WRH Bulldog football and baseball teams. Lonnie went on to attend Methodist College and Wilmington College (UNCW). He married Delores Maples of Hamlet, NC, and he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and later, Long Leaf Baptist Church, serving as a Deacon, Youth leader and Sunday School teacher during his years at each. An avid sports enthusiast, Lonnie so enjoyed coaching and umpiring youth baseball as well as playing church league softball for many years. His passion was watching his grandsons play football and baseball, particularly for their respective high schools. He also loved watching his granddaughter cheer and dance. Lonnie was the founding CEO of the insurance auditing firm, TCR, which was his lifelong career.
To know Lonnie was to love him. If you were ever a part of our dad’s life, no doubt you have a funny story to recall. He was known for his quick wit and sense of humor, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit. He was a sensitive soul and loved his girls and family, dearly.
He is survived by his daughters, Kelly Bunch Bishop (Lane) and Robin Bunch Cromartie (Mike), his grandchildren, Cameron Bishop (Morgan), Caleb Bishop, Rhett Cromartie and Callie Grace Cromartie, and great grandsons, Jayse and Triton. He is also cherished by his brothers and sisters in love, his many nieces and nephews and his numerous friends. His passing leaves a tremendous void in our lives, but knowing he is reunited with his love, in their eternal home, is truly comforting.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 1:00 pm at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel, Wilmington, NC. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service, from 12-1. Interment will follow at Oleander Memorial Gardens.
We would like to extend a gracious thank you to the angels at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. They treated our father with the utmost dignity, compassion, and respect in his final days. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to them, in his memory.
