Pernie Claudell Bunger

In her early years Claudell lived on a farm near Floydada, Texas. She always said they didn’t have much but always had food at the time a lot of people didn’t and had great stories regarding the hard but simple life that we can only imagine.

She moved to Odessa, Texas in her teens and graduated from Odessa High School in 1946. Two years later she married her first love, Lewis Irving Bates. This union produced a son, Ira Irving Bates and a daughter, Mary Susan Bates Stephan. Sadly, the love of her life passed the day before their 20th anniversary. Claudell was a stay at home full time mom and wife. This event led her to the Ortloff Corporation for seventeen years. In 1977, Claudell married a wonderful, loving man, Welton H. Bunger who blessed her with many happy years she so richly deserved.

She chose retirement when her first granddaughter was born so she would have time to spoil the “princess”. Three years later her second granddaughter arrived, whom she called her “angel”. She always showed the true spirit of a Southern independent lady. Her family was everything. She lived her whole life seeing to our needs and wants.

She is predeceased by her first husband, Lewis Irving Bates, her son, Ira Irving Bates, second husband, Welton H. Bunger, and daughter, Lela Marie Bunger.

Claudell leaves to cherish her memory, daughter, Mary Susan Bates Stephan, daughter, Janis Ann Clausen, and granddaughters, Jessica Susan Stephan Pike and Rebecca Lynn Stephan. She also has two great grandsons, Hayden Wayne Ira Pike, her sweetheart, and Corbin Jay Allen Pike, her precious.

Hold a place at the table for us, mom. We love you.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 10:00a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 6801 East Business 20, Odessa, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home of Midland. Condolences may be offered at: www.ellisfunerals.com.