Rita S. Bunch

Rita Sue Bunch, daughter of the late Samuel Edward and Mary Sue (Guntharp) Bunch, was born December 4, 1947 in Williford, Arkansas, and departed this life March 24, 2017 in Springfield, Missouri. She was 69 years, 3 months, and 20 days of age.

Rita attended Riverside Elementary School in Rockford, Illinois. Upon attending her very first day of school she stated she would be a teacher and never wavered from that statement. Rita graduated from Pocahontas High School in Arkansas and then began attending college at what is now called Williams Baptist College. She transferred to Arkansas State University where she majored in education earning a Bachelors degree. Rita began teaching at Mountain Grove Elementary School in 1970 and completed her Masters degree at Arkansas State University.

Rita never married, but had hundreds of children that she loved and taught the love of learning and kindness. She was a kind hearted soul who never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone.

Rita enjoyed traveling, reading, trivia, and singing in the church choir. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Iota Sorority as well as Missouri State Teachers Association, Community Teachers Association, Parent Teacher Organization, Teachettes, Senior Game Day, and the Mountain Grove First Baptist Church Choir, and the Mountain Grove Panther Booster Club.

Rita is survived by her sister, Linda (Bunch) Wulff of Cherokee Village, Arkansas, one niece, Christina (Wulff) Murphy and husband, Chad, and one nephew, Adam Wulff and wife, Jade, three great-nephews, Cooper and Cort Murphy and Jonathan Durant Wulff, and a host of friends and church family who will miss her dearly.


Visitation: Thursday, March 30th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove.



Funeral Service: Friday, March 31st at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove.



Burial: Friday, March 31st at 3:00 PM at Sutton Cemetery, Pocahontas, Arkansas.





Memorial Contributions: Samaritan's Purse or Care To Learn c/o the funeral home.