(Lansing State Journal 1/20/2003)
Bonita May "Bonnie" (Lantz) Bunting, Washington, DC
Passed away peacefully on December 17, 2002, at her home in Washington DC, with family at her bedside. Bonnie was born April 15, 1947 in Lansing, MI. She started school at East Lansing's Marble Elementary in 1952, graduated from Okemos H.S. in 1965, received a BA as an English major at U of M in 1969, and a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from George Washington Univ. in 1987. For the past 25 plus years, Bonnie has worked for the National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting; The National Trust for Historic Preservation; The National Rehabilitation Hospital; and recently, The National Parks Conservation Association. Bonnie worked for 12 years at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Wasington. In 1998, she served as President of the D.C. Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and in 2002 was recipient of their Distinguished Service Award. Bonne married Paul Bennet in 1982. He is a freelance writer and they celebrated their 20th anniversary last year with a trip to Italy. Bonnies's hobbies include tennis, book club activities, and traveling. Survivors include Bonnie's parents, Rhea and Edgar Lantz of Okemos; husband, Paul Bennett, and daugher, Rebecca Leigh Bunting, both of Washington, DC; brother, Edgar Jr. (Elisa), niece, Cynthia, and nephews, Edgar III and Samuel Lantz, all of Oakland, CA; sister, Dainele (Ron) Rose of Lansing; and former husband, James Bunting. A Memorial Service was held on December 23, 2002, at River Road Unitarian Chuch, Bethesda, MD. Bonnie was an inspiration to those whose lives she touched. Those wishing may send donations to N.P.C.A. 1300 19th St. N.W. Ste 300, Washington, DC 20036
In memory of Bonnie (Lantz) Bunting.
April 15, 1947-December 17, 2002
"Our love for you spreads its wings so wide
That in Soaring they block the sun.
And this shadow is grief”
Paul Bennett, 2002
Remembered best as a good friend. The 1965 Tomahawk pictures Bonnie as Mrs. Bramson in the school play, the Daughter of the American Revolution award winner, Homecoming representative and a whole list of activities. We remember Bonnie on a more personal level, a senior trip to Florida with Patricia Harmon’s parents as chaperones, Girl Scout camp as elementary school kids, a train trip through Europe during college, sorority sisters at Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Michigan, surviving High School, hours spent talking, dancing to Dick Clark and American Bandstand! As adults we managed to keep in touch over miles and separate states. Before e-mail we wrote letters and the letters survive as concrete memories of our lives and what we shared. The letters are difficult to read now as we still miss Bonnie even as we are thankful to have had her as a lifetime friend.
Bonnie always said she would have five different careers and with her energy, love of learning and spirit of adventure she came close. After graduation from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in English, she obtained a teaching certificate. Her first husband Jim Bunting completed Law School, entered the military and was stationed at Subic Bay in the Philippines. Bonnie taught on base. Their daughter Rebecca was born on July 27, 1974 in the Philippines.
Returning to the United States Bonnie lived in California and then in the Washington D.C. area. Formal details of her life are in the Washington Post article. The essence of a person's life is so much more than the factual details. Bonnie was a good mom and her daughter Rebecca resembles her. As an adult Bonnie enjoyed sailing, reading, tennis and very summer Bonnie and her second husband, Paul Bennett, spent two weeks at a family compound on Higgins Lake, Michigan where Bonnie and Paul were married in 1982.
Bonnie reached out to people her whole life. Even during her illness she cared about the lives of friends. At my son’s wedding, Bonnie offered a toast and stated that we had been together for every major event of our lives and we had. Her daughter attended our daughter’s wedding last October in Virginia and I like to think a part of Bonnie was there with us.
Bonnie’s mom died suddenly of a stroke in February following Bonnie’s death in December. Mr. Lantz at 90 lives in Lansing.
(Written by Bev [Smith] Holt with assistance by Patricia Harmon)
=============Washington Post Article=====================
Bonnie Bunting, 55, a retired fundraiser, former speech-language pathologist and past president of the D.C. Speech-Language and Hearing Association, died of cancer Dec. 17 at her home in Washington.
She was a 2000 recipient of an association distinguished service award.
Mrs. Bunting came to Washington in 1976 and was a fundraiser until the mid-1980s for the National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting and then the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
From 1988 to 2000, she was a pathologist at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, where she worked with patients recovering from strokes and brain injuries.
She then served as major gifts manager with the National Parks Conservation Association until she retired in October for health reasons.
She had served as president of the John Eaton Home and School Association in 1985 and 1986.
Mrs. Bunting, who was born in Lansing, Mich., was a 1969 English graduate of the University of Michigan and received a master's degree in speech-language pathology from George Washington University in 1987.
Her marriage to James Bunting ended in divorce.
Survivors include her husband, Paul Bennett, whom she married in 1982, and a daughter from her first marriage, Rebecca Bunting, both of Washington; her parents, Edgar and Rhea Lantz of Okemos, Mich.; a brother; and a sister.