Mr. Ernest Wilson Bunting, Sr., age 88, a resident of 1739 John Small Avenue, Washington, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, at the First Christian Church, Washington, conducted by Dr. Robert Cayton. Burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens, Washington.

The following will serve as pallbearers: Phil Cameron, Stuart Godley, Maurice Cutler, Will Cutler, Jesse Skinner and Bill Worsley.

Mr. Bunting was born in Oak City, on Dec. 31, 1929. He was the son of the late Ernest Leroy Bunting and Willie McCree Rawls Bunting. Mr. Bunting served in the U.S. Army. He retired as a central office technician with Sprint (formerly Carolina Telephone) with 43 years of service. Mr. Bunting was a member of the First Christian Church, Men’s Bible Class and CMF. He was a former member of the Lion’s Club, Red Men, Beaufort County Fair Association and the V.F.W. In his spare time, Mr. Bunting enjoyed woodworking, gardening, dancing and riding his motorcycle.

On Sept. 28, 1957, Mr. Bunting married the former Mary Alice Squires, who preceded him in death, Sept. 10, 1993.

Mr. Bunting is survived by his daughter, Sharon Huntington (Rick), of Washington; son, Ernest “Ernie” W. Bunting, Jr., of Washington; three grandchildren, William “Will” M. Cutler, Madison C. Bunting, Reagan E. Bunting; and two sisters, Lael B. House of Tarboro, Ann B. Lapetina, of Norfolk, Virginia.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Bunting was preceded in death by a sister, Jewel B. Roberson.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington and other times at his home.

Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Humane Society, P.O. Box 33, Washington, N.C. 27889.

Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Bunting family.