1SG (Ret) William James Bunnell

William “Bill” Bunnell, 58, of Lawrenceville, GA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Bill was a very proud father to his two daughters, Mackenzie Bunnell of Columbus GA, and Mallory Moore and her husband, Clayton, of Columbus. He is also survived by his sister, Sarah “Sally” Eaton of Savannah GA, and brother, Tom Bunnell and his wife Deborah of Concord NH, along with their two children, Noah and Eliza.

Born at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta GA to James Leighton Bunnell and Katherine Tucker Bunnell, Bill and his family spent most of their time residing in Atlanta GA and Andover Massachusetts. In 1981, Bill enlisted in the US Army where he accumulated many medals, ribbons and badges- Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Achievement Medal (5thaward), Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Korean Basic Parachutist Badge. While in the army Bill completed many hours of training to include, Infantryman, Driver training, Primary Leadership Development, Basic Airborne, Ranger, Battalion Training Management, High Altitude Low Opening (HALO), Jump Master, HALO Jump Master, Basic Non-Commission, Officer Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape High Risk, Scout Swimmer, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Long Ranger Surveillance Leaders Course, Instructor Training Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Jungle Warfare Training Center, HALO-HAHO Oxygen Technician, Operations Planning Course, Equal Opportunity Representative/CO2 Course. Bill retired from the US Army as a First Sergeant in 2000.

Post Retirement, Bill spent some time with the Kuwait Observer Controller Team (KOCT) working with “Desert Spring”. He was later employed by Firearms Training Systems (FATS) Inc. as Training Specialist with the Training and Development Department and later advanced to Product Manager while furthering his education with Corllins University where he graduated with an Award of Excellence and Certificate of Distinction with his Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management. Around this time Bill also completed his Six Sigma Black Belt, and graduated with his MBA in Business Administration from Corllins Univeristy. Bill was currently working at Meggitt Training Systems INC. where he started as a Program Manager and promoted to Business Improvement Manager as PMP (Project Management Professional), CSM, CSPO.

The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Army never left him. As friends and family will attest, Bill was an incredibly intelligent man who loved the Rangers, his job, his friends and family, and most of all having a good time; he could instantly fill up a room with laughter. We thank God for the gift of his life and the blessing of the time we spent with him.

A service in honor of William "Bill" Bunnell will be held Saturday Sept 17 at 5pm at the National Infantry Museum Chapel (1775 Legacy Way Columbus GA)

In lieu of flowers the family is asking donations be made to the Ranger Memorial in honor of 1st SGT William Bunnell.

https://www.rangermemorial.com/Donation.aspx