Robert Bunday
Bob Bunday enjoyed time in the outdoors, especially when spent with his family. He will be greatly missed.
Following a year of failing health, Robert Arthur Bunday, a longtime resident of Bend, Ore., passed away at the age of 83 on Oct. 3, 2025. He answered to many names that included Bob, Buzz, Honey, Dad and Gramps.
Bob was born in Bemidji, Minn., in 1942, and later lived in numerous Minnesota cities that included Detroit Lakes, where he spent his early school years. He had fond memories of his time there spent with his cousins and friends. The family then moved to Moses Lake, Wash., where he started high school and then moved to Spokane, Wash., his senior year. He was involved in Boy Scouts, playing basketball on his school team and was accomplished on the accordion.
In 1961, he married the love of his life, Lela (Markham) Bunday.
After working for the phone company since the age of 18, he took early retirement after 30 years. During his career, he worked in Lewiston, Idaho, Spokane, and Bend, Ore.
He was most happy when he was in nature, spending summers camping with his family and a multitude of friends. Northern Idaho and the Oregon Coast were his favorite places to be. After he retired, he and Lela spent many years as Camp Hosts at Oregon State Parks. One of his many duties included giving tours of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse, which he took great pride in doing. The camping experiences and memories that he shared with his family continue on through his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert D. Bunday, and his mother, Ruth Bunday.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lela Bunday; his siblings, brother Ron (Donna) Bunday and his sister, Trisha Rainey; his three children, Julie (James) Pirtle, Rod (Denise) Bunday, and Randy (Lisa) Bunday; his six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Robert spent the last three months of his life living at Brookdale Memory Care in Bend. The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care and consideration that the entire staff extended to him.
Per his request, there will be no funeral service. He wrote that he would much rather everyone remember him with a party. Please take a moment to think of your favorite memory with him and raise a glass to Bob.