Noah Zark Bunyard

Noah Zark Bunyard, age 48, of Hamilton, Texas, passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with terminal melanoma. He was born on June 9, 1977, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Diana Stokely and Jim Bunyard, and was welcomed by his older sister, Rachel, who taught him compassion, empathy, and a few other important life skills.

Noah spent his early years in Greenville, South Carolina, where he lived until middle school. As a child, he loved doing tricks on his Big Wheel and later on his bicycle. He had many friends and could often be found playing in the creek or in a treehouse tucked away in the woods. Noah was known for hauling all kinds of materials from nearby building sites back to the treehouse, often talking about someday living there. In school, he was very bright but not particularly fond of homework or classwork; his parents frequently discovered wadded-up papers in his backpack. Despite this, Noah was an A student based on his test performance. He also loved playing on his Commodore 64 and he mastered every game he owned.

Noah studied Engineering at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia, and later Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

For more than sixteen years, Noah lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, commuting to Northern Virginia for work as an IT Network Engineer. He spent seven years at UUNet and nine years at Lumos (formerly nTelos), helping ensure that people and businesses could connect and communicate through the internet. On Thursdays, Noah made it a point to return home to Charlottesville to meet friends for wings or to host poker nights at his house. A loyal friend and thoughtful communicator, Noah had a gift for knowing just the right thing to say. His natural curiosity fueled a lifelong love of learning, which he eagerly shared with others by introducing them to new ideas, media, and technology.

In 2012, Noah was diagnosed with stage 2B melanoma. A recurrence in 2014 revealed that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes (stage 3C). In 2016, additional satellite tumors were discovered, requiring further surgeries, skin grafts, and immunotherapy treatments. Throughout it all, Noah maintained a 100% success rate in self-diagnosing his melanoma—something he took quiet pride in, along with his characteristic dry humor.

For these years of treatment and recovery, Noah found constant comfort from his two cats, Blue and Red. Regarding Blue, Noah said, "I wouldn't be here without him." Another quiet help and comfort during those difficult years was Noah's friendship with Matt Jacobs, who came to the house every week to play video games, to talk, and to listen.

Noah moved to Hamilton, Texas, in September 2022 to live with his mother and begin a new chapter. He soon found work as a night-shift admissions clerk at Hamilton General Hospital. In addition to quickly mastering the hospital systems, Noah built strong friendships with doctors, nurses, technicians, and staff, who admired his analytical mind, dry wit, loyalty, and dedication. Patients and families came to know him as “the tall, red-headed guy” who was always professional, kind, and especially gentle during difficult moments.

Noah is preceded in death by his cat, Blue. When his dearest companion died in July 2025, at the age of seventeen, Noah had this to say, "He was the best boy and I loved him more than anything. And he loved me more than anything. And it kills me to lose him but we had so much good times together. I would have hated to see him suffer, I guess that's a blessing, but it doesn't feel that way at the moment. I am heartbroken, I feel guilty for having a favorite, but Blue was my favorite. I loved him more than any pet or person in my entire life."

Noah is survived by his mother, Diana Ani Stokely of Hamilton, Texas; his father, Jim Bunyard, and stepmother, Sherry Bunyard, of Waynesboro, Virginia; his sister, Rachel Ray, her husband, Saugato Ray, and their children, Eshan and Anika, of Granbury, Texas; and his friend, Matt Jacobs of Schuyler, Virginia.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 9, at 9:00 a.m. at Riley Funeral Home, located at 402 West Main Street in Hamilton, Texas. Flowers and photographs of Noah are welcome.