Amy Hackney Wunder, 61, of Orlando, passed away on November 3, 2012. She was born on July 18, 1951 in Pennington Gap, Virginia, to Thomas and Bea Hackney. Survivors include her husband, Nick Wunder; children, Julie Wunder (son-in-law Shon Norris) and Tommy Wunder; mother, Bea Hackney.
Amy lived in several southern cities before her family settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee when she was in middle school. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1973. She continued her education in law school at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. After several semesters in law school Amy decided that she was more drawn to education and switched her focus from law school to education. She began her career by teaching high school English.
While living in Knoxville, Amy met Nick Wunder at a Sunday School class. They married on July 17, 1976. They briefly lived in Fort Worth, Texas, where Julie was born in 1979, before settling in Orlando in 1981. Tommy was born in 1983.
Amy took a break from her career from the time Julie was born until Tommy started school. During that time she was an active member at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, starting the original “Mother’s Day Out” program at the church. She was one of the people responsible for helping get funding for the original church expansion.
Amy went back to school and completed her Masters in Education with straight A’s at the University of Central Florida in 1988. Shortly after, she started working again as a Guidance Counselor at Dr. Phillips High School. She became a beloved member of the staff and the “go to” person for helping students get into Ivy League colleges.
In 2000, Orange County Schools selected Amy as one of the original staff to open Olympia High School. She worked behind the scenes for a year before the school opened and made many decisions that shaped the way the school is today. Amy was the head of the Guidance Department for several years before she took on a new role to focus more on helping students and the Olympia High School Advanced Placement Experience Scholars Academy (APEX). She continued to be a highly respected Counselor who helped many with her passion for education. She laboriously shaped the lives of thousands of students by helping get them into college. Amy was well known for her extensive knowledge of hundreds of colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. She was very successful at this since she spent a great deal of her own time visiting colleges. She excelled at knowing which college would be the “best fit” for her students. Students were always grateful to get her one-of-a-kind, eloquent, and insightful letters of recommendation. Amy retired from Olympia High School in 2011. When she retired, her former students got together and sent her hundreds of letters thanking her for everything she did. She was also an Orange County High School Counselor of the Year and an Honorary Admissions Officer of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Beyond all, Amy was a beautiful wife and mother. Her family was the center of her life and she spent her time focused on creating a loving family bond that will never be broken. She will be remembered for her quiet grace, humility, and giving nature. She led her life with a high moral compass, setting an example for others to follow.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 12, 2012, 10:00 am at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 876-4991. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Amy’s memory to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Condolences may be offered at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com.
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