Gunn Obituaries - My (New) Homepage

woodworking and electronics. Dr. Gunn was a member of Northminster Presbyterian
Church for over 50 years. Survivors are his beloved wife of nearly 65 years, four sons,
Bradley, Charles, David, and Royce, seven grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Sacramento Crises Nursery or the Heifer Project
International.
Charles W. Gunn, Jr. "Bunny"
went home to be with the Lord at sunset on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. He was
predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary Wilson Sheffield of Crewe. He will be greatly
missed by his children, Charles W. Gunn III and his wife, Beverly, of Hopewell, and
Annhorner Truitt and her husband, Craig, of Richmond. He is also survived by his sister,
Lois Cotten and her family of Tallahassee, Florida. He was born July 31, 1922 in
Tallahassee, Florida. At an early age, his sister called him "Bunny". This term of
endearment has followed him since. His career began by selling pecans from his parents'
trees and working as a teenage "extra" in Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan films. He served in
the U.S. Navy during WWII where he fought in the North Atlantic, Caribbean and South
Pacific. He attended John B. Stetson University and Florida State University. He began
working for "the telephone company" in Florida, then was transferred to South Boston,
Va. and ultimately to Lexington. He worked there until he earned his law degree from
Washington and Lee University in 1958. He settled with his family in Lexington where he
established a law practice. From 1962-63, he was a judge in Buena Vista Municipal Court.
"Bunny" Gunn was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Lexington,
Buena Vista, Bedford and Rocky Mount, and the counties of Rockbridge, Bedford and
Franklin from 1963 to 1978. During his tenure, he served on the Appropriations, Health
Welfare and Institutions, Roads and Internal Navigation Committees, and chaired the
Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. In 1979, he was named Director of
Administrative Services for the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
After his retirement, he was appointed member of the Department of Mental Health,
Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Board. He was a faithful champion of
the physically and mentally disabled, devoting his life to "walking his talk" both publically
and privately. He was humbled to be recognized by the Virginia Association for Retarded
Children for "outstanding efforts to guarantee basic human rights for all" and the Virginia
Association for Mental Health for "courageous service to the mentally ill". He served in
numerous church and civic leadership positions including being president of the
Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce, the Lexington Lifesaving and First Aid
Crew, Jaycees, and the Rockbridge County-Buena Vista Bar Association. He was a
Member of Council of Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, the American
Legion, and the Hickory Hill Gun Club. He chaired the Board of Stewards of Trinity
United Methodist Church, was president of Methodist Men, and chairman of the pastoral
committee. He taught Sunday School for 20 years and loved serving as a substitute
"itinerant lay preacher" at numerous small churches. For over a decade, he was an
enthusiastic member of a small group through Needle's Eye Ministries, and, more recently,
a joyful member of Third Presbyterian Church in Richmond. He was a proud member of
the Richmond Chapter/ U.S. Navy, Armed Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine. Throughout
life, he worked to demonstrate his love for the Lord, for his family, neighbors and others.