Barbara Ann Rice Bunch

Born in Rocky Mount, NC, Mrs. Bunch was a longtime high school English teacher and later a Guidance Counselor during her career in Education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Meredith College and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a graduate degree from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She loved teaching and helping students each day in various capacities from any classroom struggles to those requiring personal guidance and assistance. She taught Cary Senior High School as her first teaching job. She later taught and served as a Guidance Counselor at Clinton Senior High School. She then accepted the position as the Director of Guidance at Saint Mary’s Junior College (now Saint Mary’s School) in Raleigh. After concluding her career with North Carolina Department of Education, she began to enjoy her well-deserved retirement years. She always deeply valued the friendships she developed with her students and remained in close personal contact with many. She was frequently an honored guest and many high school reunions/class gatherings even as recently as last year.

She was loving wife, mother, and then grandmother.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Herman Bunch, Jr and her parents, Harold and Mary Rice.

She is survived by her daughter Mary-Allison Bunch, son John Bunch and his wife Debbie, and grandsons Bryan, Sean and Casey.

A graveside service will be held at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC on Tuesday May 12, 2026 at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation or gift to the charity or organization of your choice.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Bunch family.