BUNCH, JAMES EVAN - of Coalfield, born on June 3, 1923, passed away at his home on June 25, 2010 after a long illness. He was a well-known educator in Morgan and Anderson Counties, having served for 29 years as a teacher, guidance counselor, and principal. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated from Colorado A&M University, later receiving a Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee. As an educator and through community involvement, he had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of hundreds of students through his passion for teaching and his use of teaching methods that sparked student interest and the desire for learning. He always enjoyed hearing of his former students' successful accomplishments, their careers, and their families. He was preceded in death by parents, Walter and Lilly Peters Bunch; sister, Aletha Spainhour; and brothers, Isaac and Paul bunch. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Margaret Hughett Bunch; daughter, Janie and husband, Perry Ripple, III, together with their children Meghan and Lauren, of Johnson city; son, Jackie Bunch of Coalfield; and daughter, Norma Patterson; sisters, Florence Worthington of Coalfield and Stella Kelly of Joyner; and brother, Earl of California. He is also survived by special friends, Patty and Steve Seiber, who were always available, loving, and caring throughout his long illness. He was a combat veteran of World War II, attached to the 735th Squadron of the 453rd Heavy Bomb Group in the European Theatre of Operations. As Master Sergeant, he served as Engineer and Gunner in Lorenzo's crew, successfully completing 35 combat missions in B-24 bombers into German occupied Western Europe from August 2 - November 26, 1944. He then was transferred to Asia to serve in the post-war occupation of Japan. He later served for 13 months during the Korean conflict and achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant. A celebration of life service will be held at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Coalfield on Monday, June 28, at 3 p.m. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends at the church from 1 - 3 p.m. Because his body was donated to research, there will be no burial and the family requests that no flowers be sent. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital <http://media.legacy.com/accipiter/adclick/CID=000002bbfaf0117500000000/acc_random=5946506934/pageid=4632611807/prod=1/site=Legacy/area=knoxnews.20/zone=lifestory/aamsz=CLIO/position=1/ccid=699/aamgnrc1=St.%20Jude%20Children%27s%20Research%20Hospital/relocate=http%3A//shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/shop.do%3FcID%3D10180%26Select+your+card.x%3D77%26Select+your+card.y%3D11%26plt%3DGPLGENLKALSAC1000001> , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. Jackson-Oliver Mortuary in Oliver Springs is in charge of arrangements. We invite you to share your thoughts and memories with the Bunch Family at www.jacksonolivermortuary@att.net <http://www.jacksonolivermortuary@att.net> [Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on June 27, 2010]