William Reed Buntin, Sr.

William Reed Buntin, Sr. was born February 24, 1934 in Enid, Mississippi to Rayburn and Flake (née Little) Buntin. He passed from life to eternal life on July 22, 2018. He was the oldest of four children. His younger years were spent in Tallahatchie County. As a teenager, Reed moved to Panola County where he remained for the rest of his life. He served his country in the Air Force during the early 1950s. In 1954, Reed met and married his wife Ruth. Reed and Ruth celebrated their 64^th wedding anniversary on July 10 of this year. 

Reed was a retired coin machine operator and food service contractor. He was an active member of Tocowa Baptist Church. Outside of work, Reed’s interests included growing and sharing tomatoes, local politics, and cooking. He also enjoyed feeding birds and squirrels, as well as the many yard cats he and Ruth had through the years. Reed never met a stranger. He enjoyed talking and visiting with friends. However, his greatest joy was his family. 

Reed was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jerry and Joe Buntin; and his first grandchild, Andrew Buntin. 

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Ruth, his sister Jane Pierce of Nashville, TN, and four children: Reed Buntin (Debbie) of Nashville, TN; Angie Phelps (Donald) of Batesville; Robert Buntin (Margaret) of Batesville; and Melissa Buntin of Memphis, TN. He left behind seven grandchildren with fond memories of PopPop. They are Seth Buntin (Adrian) of Nashville, TN; Aimee Muse (Rob) of Troy, TN; Christopher Buntin (Alex) of Spring Hill, TN; Brandon Hinton of Ridgeland, MS; Don Phelps (Marina) of Oxford, MS; Addison Buntin of Batesville; and Sarah Aldy of Nashville, TN.  PopPop was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren.