Roland Hayes Bunton

Roland Hayes Bunton was born on February 19th , 1945, in Austin Texas, four minutes after his twin sister Maland Mays Bunton was born. He was the 9th child born to Howell and Maggie Bunton. The family moved to California in 1960, and Roland and Maland were inseparable up to their graduation in 1963 from Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. After graduation, Maland went on to college and Roland joined the military. He served in the Air Force during the

Viet Nam war, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Billy Ray Bunton, who also served his country in the Air Force.

After returning home from his service, Roland made a decision that would shape not only his own life, but the lives of the generations that followed him: pursuing higher education. He earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach, laying the foundation for a career defined by discipline and innovation. Never one to settle, Roland continued to build upon that foundation by earning his Master of Business Administration from Northrop Grumman University, sharpening both his technical and executive leadership skills. His persistent intellectual drive later led him to pursue and obtain a law degree in arbitration from Pepperdine University, equipping him with the expertise to assist others through complex legal challenges. His pursuit of higher education established a standard within his family — one that carried forward to his children and grandchildren, who also became college educated, continuing the legacy he began.

In 1966, Roland married the love of his life, Jacquelyn Lanier Haywood, and to that union were born two children, Craig Hayes Bunton and Adrienne Elise Bunton. Though they eventually separated, neither of them ever remarried.

Roland was employed at Northrop Grumman, where he was one of the top minds turning ideas into outcomes and contributing to the development of technological innovations that were transforming the world. He spent decades with the company, contributing to work that included designing next-generation aircraft, harnessing digital technologies, and building spacecraft that helped advance humanity’s reach beyond Earth.

After retiring from Northrop, Roland established his own business as a Mitigation Specialist, providing a diverse clientele with increased control over the resolution of their legal disputes. With both business acumen and legal expertise, he identified clients’ risks and needs — intellectual, developmental, and mental health — and provided services to develop and facilitate their participation in release plans, including referrals and linkages to appropriate community services and treatment programs.

Roland was known for his industriousness and single-mindedness in achieving set goals. That same determination led him to invest in real estate, where he owned multiple properties in Los Angeles, including a home in Ladera Heights, a community known for its excellence and legacy.

Roland went home to be with God on February 6, 2026, at the age of 80. He leaves to cherish his memory his twin sister, Maland Bunton-Jackson; his son, Craig Bunton; his daughter, Adrienne Bunton; and his granddaughters, Canada Lynn Cunningham and Brittish Salah Chavis; his sisters, Howeleen Houston, Zora Ross, and Dr. Noma LeMoine; and a host of relatives and friends. His life was one of service, intellect, perseverance, and quiet strength. He built, he led, he invested, he advocated — and above all, he loved his family. His legacy will continue to live on in all who were shaped by his example.

A visitation will be held on March 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Miller-Jones Menifee Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 26770 Murrieta Rd., Menifee, CA 92585. The funeral service will follow at the same location from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM.

A committal service will be held at Riverside National Cemetery, located at 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, from 12:45 PM to 1:15 PM on the same day.