Paul Cone Bunce Sr.

Paul Cone Bunce, age 87, died Saturday, January 8, at the Winterville Retirement Center in Winterville, Ga. He was born in Statesboro, Georgia, the son of James Arthur and Jessie Della Newton Bunce. As a young man, he worked on his father's farm near Denmark, Georgia, began his studies at Georgia Teacher's College and served in the U.S. Army during and immediately following World War II. In 1945 he was married to Mary Frances Rogers of Reidsville, Ga. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia and was valedictorian of his graduating class. In 1956 he received a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, also from the University of Georgia. He worked for several years for John Deere in Alabama and then as an economist for the Agricultural Extension Service (later Cooperative Extension Service) at the University of Georgia. In the mid 1960s he became a management information specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service and was in charge of computerizing all extension service record keeping, including all records for county agricultural and home economics agents as well as Georgia 4-H clubs.

Surviving are his son, Paul Cone Bunce Jr., and his wife, Ann Bunce, of Winterville; his daughter, Dr. Frances Bunce Dielmann of Oberursel, Germany; granddaughter, Dr. Antonia Rebecca Bunce Bowen, and her husband, Dr. Nathan Bowen, of Atlanta; grandson, Christopher Paul Dielmann; great-grandson, Evan James Bowen; his brother, Isaac Newton Bunce of Statesboro; niece, Sophia Caroline Bunce; and nephew, Augustine Arthur Bunce.

The funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Middleground Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Howard Rushing officiating. This church was started under a brush arbor by the brother of Mr. Bunce's grandmother.

The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and to share your thoughts and fond memories with the Bunce family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.