Full Circle       1940 –

DATES:  Richard Ernest Bunyard was born 17 November 1940 in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana. He was the son of William Carl Bunyard and Vera May Shinabarger. Richard died in Laurinburg, Scotland County, North Carolina on 20 Jun 2018.

MARRIAGE:  Richard Ernest married Estelle Simmons 1 January 1965 in South Carolina. Estelle is the daughter of Mayo Simmons and Sadie Huggins. Estelle was born 11 Apr 1939 and died 1 Oct 2020. Both Richard and Estelle are buried at Hillside Memorial Park, Laurinburg, North Carolina.

HISTORY:  Richard’s birth warranted a congratulatory letter from the Assistant Democratic Whip, Congressman Wm. T. Schulte of Indiana. He was 7 months old when he moved from East Chicago with his parents to their new home in Schererville, Indiana. Richard attended local schools and graduated from Dyer High School in 1959. He worked for Simmons Company before being drafted into the Army in October 1963.

Richard was assigned to Troop A of the 17th Cavalry in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. The 82nd Airborne Division is a major Strategic Army Corps that is constantly maintained on an immediate readiness basis for airborne deployment to any area around the world. In April 1965, Richard and his unit were sent on active duty into the Dominican Republic. The “All-Americans” were alerted for action in response to the civil war raging in the Dominican Republic. The 82nd deployed to the Caribbean in Operation POWER PACK. Peace and stability was restored by June 17.

At the end of hostilities, Richard reported back to Fort Bragg, 23 miles north of Laurinburg. It was while Richard was station at Fort Bragg that he met Estelle Simmons. After his honorable discharge from the army, Richard and Estelle briefly made their home in Highland, Lake County, Indiana before making their permanent home in Laurinburg, North Carolina. They remain living and working in Laurinburg. 

CHILDREN of Richard Ernest Bunyard and Estelle Simmons:

  1. Richard Wayne Bunyard born 4 October 1966 in Laurinburg, NC.

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