Bunyan Boyd Greener

Bunyan Greener was born in Hickeytown, Arkansas on April 8, 1919. His parents were Reverend Elias Bunyan & Lucy Greener. He was the youngest of five children (Mellie, Claude, Floyd, Liddie & Boyd Bunyan). Because he and his father had the same middle name, Bunyan was always called “Junior.” He grew up in and around Pope/Johnson counties. Bunyan’s father was a Baptist church planter in Arkansas. As a child, Bunyan enjoyed fishing, hunting, and getting into trouble with his friends and cousins. He spent a lot of time with his cousin, Truett Greener. His formal education was only through the eighth grade but after finishing school he took and passed the state test that credentialed him to teach in the small grammar schools that were prevalent in Arkansas during the 1930’s.

As a teenager, Bunyan served in the Civilian Conservation Corp, earning $30/month of which he sent $22 home to his parents. He managed to live on the remaining eight dollars by successfully investing in the floating card games in the camp. Before CCC camp he would go to other states such as Kansas during harvest season to earn extra money for his parents.

After December 7, 1941 Bunyan quit his job and prepared to serve in the armed forces of the United States. He met Katie Rebecca Lollis at a party in early 1942. They started dating right away and they were engaged in June of that year. He was inducted into the U. S. Army on August 18, 1942. Katie wanted to get married before he went to boot camp. But Bunyan was concerned about being killed and leaving her a widow. They finally compromised and agreed to get married on his first furlough which they thought would be in about 6 months. But Bunyan was shipped out after training and that first furlough was three years later after the end of his overseas duty.

Bunyan and Katie were married in front of the fireplace at his Uncle Eugene Greener’s house. After the ceremony they shared a fried chicken dinner with the family and attended a revival service that evening before leaving on their honeymoon in nearby Clarksville, Arkansas. They were married for almost 61 years until Katie’s death in 2006.

While in the Army, Bunyan served as a Surgical Technician in the Hawaiian Islands. His hospital treated seriously ill or injured Marines from the 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment. He was honorably discharged from the U S Army on October 28, 1945.

In late 1949 Bunyan and Katie migrated to Southern California along with their first two children. Their first home was a little 20’x20’ house that was so small the beds had to be dismantled and stacked during the day. Covina Assembly of God quickly became a major part of their lives. They attended their first service at Covina Assembly on New Year’s Eve 1949. They soon became members and attended there the rest of their lives. During his time as a member of Covina Assembly of God, Bunyan served as Vice President of the Christ Ambassador’s, Deacon, Sunday School and VBS teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, choir member, usher, Bus Ministry Director and Greeter (his last ministry). He and his friend, Marshal Smith, both received Exhorter’s credentials with the Assemblies of God and would frequently preach at street meetings and rescue missions in Los Angeles, as well as in Sunday afternoon services in local homes for the aged. After retirement, Bunyan also spent time visiting prisoners at the Chino Men’s prison. He was acknowledged a number of times, in later years, as the catalyst that touched someone’s life…helping them go in a more positive direction.

Bunyan and Katie spent their lives devoted to caring for their family. When they first moved to California, Bunyan would do any kind of work available including odd jobs... anything to keep a roof overhead and food on the table. He first started working for Bill Zachary, a local realtor and family member, who always had a property in transition for Bunyan to clean, paint, repair, landscape, etc. This experience led to work as a general construction laborer in the Covina area. When the construction phase of his career ended he bought one of the houses he helped build (on a G.I. loan) and rented it out while he and Marshal Smith obtained work as truck drivers for a local Orange grove ranch. In the mid-fifties he was hired as a letter carrier for the local post office in Covina/West Covina; a job which he kept until his retirement. He held second jobs most of his life; always making sure that his children had a better and more secure life than he had as a child. He sold shoes and did real estate odd jobs for a number of years. Then he obtained a more permanent part-time job as an evening janitor for the Covina Valley Unified School District; a position he held for over twenty years. Even after retirement he worked several evenings a week as a substitute janitor or custodian for CVUSD. Principals who knew him would specifically request him when their regular custodians took vacations or extended leaves. His work ethic was always “Do everything that is required…and a little bit more.”

Bunyan and Katie have four children: Micheal, Carolyn, Tim and Rod. Five grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, many “adopted” grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews scattered across the United States. Their home was almost always the center of family celebrations and many family traditions were built around these celebrations. For instance, there is always some type of Chinese food served for Christmas Eve dinner because in the fifties, Bunyan always had to work late at the post office on Christmas Eve. One year, rather than cause a cold or overcooked dinner he offered to pick up take out Chinese food on his way home. The meal was a success and the tradition was established.

After retirement, Bunyan devoted even more time to his family…especially his grandchildren. They have many fond childhood memories of the outings he took them on…hikes in the lemon groves where they would climb trees and yodel down the big irrigation pipes, catching frogs and splashing in irrigation creeks all through the valley, trips to Griffith Park, and learning to drive his old Pinto and Capri on dirt roads out in the country.

After Katie’s death in 2006, Bunyan maintained his residence in San Dimas assisted by his children. His youngest son, Rod, lived with Bunyan up until the time of his passing…at first helping wherever needed, and later, especially in the last year serving as his primary caregiver. His daughter Carolyn was a frequent guest in the home as well; helping with laundry, chores Bunyan could no longer perform, and watching over his tomato plants. Pat Bayer, Katie’s sister, was also a continuous source of support and help. All the family members pitched in to help during his last years. But it is unlikely that Bunyan could have continued to live at home without the help of Rod, Carolyn and Pat.

Bunyan Greener peacefully entered eternity on October 29, 2011 after the final in a series of illnesses. He was surrounded by children and grandchildren, who sat with him, talked to him, and sang to him until his departure. He leaves a legacy that will always be remembered by all who knew and loved him.