Beloved schools employee killedJoe Bunch dies in car accident; co-workers stunned By Jill Coley (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Matthew Joseph "Joe" Bunch shepherded generations of Summerville children safely across the street to school. He touched many residents with his gentle sense of humor and steady work ethic. Bunch, 69, was killed Wednesday after a two-vehicle crash about 11:45 a.m. on S.C. Highway 165, said Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet. Bunch was stopped at a stop sign near Ashley Ridge High School waiting to turn onto the highway when a driver traveling south on the highway lost control and struck Bunch's car on the driver's side, said Lance Cpl. Bob Beres of the S.C. Highway Patrol. Bunch was transported to Medical University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Nisbet said. The other driver was taken to MUH, according to the Highway Patrol; a hospital spokesman could not confirm that the driver was a patient. The accident is under investigation, Beres said. Employees of Dorchester District 2, where Bunch worked for decades, reeled at the news and held an impromptu memorial Wednesday afternoon. Thirty-eight years ago, when Superintendent Joe Pye began working for the district, he remembered Bunch worked as a crossing guard for Rollings and Summerville elementary schools. "Even when he was young, he played the grandfather role to the kids. He took your problems away with him," Pye said. Bunch's trademark was gently teasing the boys by calling them "girls," and calling the girls "boys." Bunch retired several times from the district, but he always returned. In the years before his death Bunch worked as the district courier. "He was consumed by making sure everything was in its place by 7:30 a.m.," Pye said. Co-workers describe Bunch as an unassuming, humble man who took pride in his work and loved his job. If a principal was working late, Bunch would stop by to check on him. He kept an eye out for vandals and suspicious vehicles when he started his day before dawn. Those who worked alongside Bunch rushed to his aid after the accident. A school nurse worked to revive him as emergency crews made their way to the scene, and faculty went into the street to direct traffic. "He had the same qualities as a great senator or congressman," Pye said. Before working for the district, Bunch was a paid employee of the Summerville Fire Department, said Assistant Chief Jim Lord. "Whenever we really needed him he would come back," Lord said. Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier. com. |
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on October 9, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe, the entire McLeod family will miss you...I am saddened by this news..you were as much a fixture in Summerville as the Town Hall, and the entire community will miss your presence. I remember all of the quarters you would give me in elementary school (no doubt because you always had a crush on my mother), and even at 40, I remember those days as if they were yesterday. You will always have a place in my heart.
Posted by NativeSon on October 9, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He must have been a wonderful person and it would have been an emmense pleasure to have known him. Since there have been no great senators or congressmen in at least 50 years it is impossible to see the comparison.
Posted by DanniD on October 9, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad...he sounds like such a great man. My heart breaks reading this story. May he rest in peace.
Posted by charlene68 on October 9, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You will be missed.... He was such a fine person.My condolences to the family.
Posted by wood_floors on October 9, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe, you will be sadly missed in this community. I will remember you always as a caring and gentle man, carrying a smile for every person you met.
To the Bunch family - My deepest condolences to you all. Joe was a wonderful person and touched the lives of so many in this community over the years. You all are in my prayers.
Posted by ironhorse on October 9, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe would stop traffic so I could leave Rollings, grab some candy at Homer's grocery, and return.
A great guy who will be missed.
Posted by redneckgirl on October 9, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family and those who knew him. I remember him from my days at Summerville High School and he was a wonderful man. He would still see me around summerville and to this day still remembered me from over 17 years ago. What a sad day!!
Posted by bldr on October 9, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A very sad day for Summerville. You will be greatly missed Joe Bunch.
Posted by theronce on October 9, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have lost a good man. He left us with good memories.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 9, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My deepest condolences to his family and those who had the pleasure of knowing him. I am not originally from Summerville,so I didn't get to meet him. It's rare to have someone so dedicated who loves and gives to their community the way this man did. How very sad,what a loss for the community.
Posted by robbybobby on October 9, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One of those beautiful people, not the made up kind, just down to earth, honest, sincere. Sad loss for the entire Summerville family.
Posted by FortDorchesterMom on October 9, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sitting at my desk, and can't stop crying. Joe will be greatly missed...I lived down the road from Joe when I was in school, and he never forgot me...always had a wave and a smile, never forgot a name. I was just stunned to hear about his death, and my heart goes out to his family. Summerville won't be the same without him.
Posted by SpitzersinBavaria on October 9, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Having worked with Joe the last two years, I got to know a little of the wonderful man he was. He was always joking and always making you smile. Joe will be so very missed by everyone he came in contact with. The Spitzers would like to wish Joe's family and all those who mourn his loss in DD2 sympathies from afar.
Posted by kvereen on October 9, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Summerville & I will miss you Joe - You are a very special man- always with a joke and a smile for me- will miss your BBQ's too - you kept the kids in Summerville in line and in school for a long time - Class of SHS 81
Posted by RTC on October 9, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't live in Summerville, but I know what it's like to lose a person who has been a constant fixture in town. It really hurts everyone on a personal level.
My condolences to the Bunch family and all others affected by his tragic death.
Posted by Sandolla on October 9, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When a friend called to tell me about this, I felt like I'd been kicked in the chest. The fun and laughter we shared with Joe over the years is something to be treasured. There are lots of good people around, but there was only one Joe Bunch. God bless you Joe! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. My daughter cried as she recalled all the times you called her "boy", and her brother "girl". You will be missed!
Posted by atp1313 on October 9, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Godspeed Joe. You were a wonderful man 30 years ago when you helped me cross Main St, and you were a wonderful man 10 years ago when you called me out of a crowd at the Azalea Festival and greeted me by name, as if it had been 2 days and not 20 years since we had last seen each other. You were always kind and warm to those around you, and the stars will shine brighter with you taking your place in the heavens.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bunch family in this sad time, but you need only think of Joe and the love that he shared to bring a smile to your faces.
Posted by nanaboo2363 on October 9, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe Bunch was always such a silly person! He always joked around with all of us kids, but at the same time he made sure we were heading to class like we were suppose to. It's been over 20 years since I've been in school at Summerville High and a few years back my husband and I ran into him in at a resturant in Summerville . Joe remembered my name and even asked about my mother and sister (calling them both by name as well). His memory will always bring a smile to all faces that knew him! GODSPEED JOE!!!
Cindy Class of "82"
Posted by dexter6 on October 9, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live almost 1000 miles from Summerville, and was deeply saddened by the news. I had the honor of meeting Joe years ago when I was a kid...he was a good friend of my brothers and when I visited with my parents twice a year, we ALWAYS saw Joe. Unfortunately, I had not seen Joe in several years, but I would often ask my brother how he was and to tell him hello for me. I will always remember how we use to have this little saying whenever he came around, "Joe Bunch lost his lunch" he always laughed over that, every time I think of Joe, I think of that saying. Joe was a funny guy and very sweet too. I will always remember you ...wherever you are Joe, I know you'll be making em all laugh. If you meet up with my mom somewhere along the way...watch out for that flirting ;)
Posted by rebel1 on October 9, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God bless you Joe. You will be missed.
Posted by DJohnson on October 10, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Summerville will never be the same. How lucky we were to know such a great man and how sad we are that you're gone.
Joe was an incredible person I had the pleasure of seeing him almost every day when I was in school 10 years ago he always had a smile on his face and never forgot a name.
Thank you for touching my life Joe I miss you