Edwina Porter Bunch

“This is Tennessee. It is bordered on the West by the Mississippi River. It is bordered on the East by the Appalachian Mountains.” If you were a 7th grade Tennessee History student in the Lexington City School System in the mid-50s-early 80s, this is how the introduction to TN History began by Mrs. Edwina Bunch. It was evident that she loved her state and its history and before 7th grade was over, so did many of her students, and they remembered so much of what she taught them through her stories and her engagement of them in their learning. “She was my favorite teacher.” “She believed in me more than I believed in myself.” “I love history to this day because of Mrs. Bunch.” “And every Halloween I try my best to recall the story of the Bell Witch of Robertson County to tell my children (now my grandchildren) because Mrs. Bunch painted such a vivid picture of that haunting.” These are but a sampling of the accolades that have been sent to the family upon hearing of Mrs. Bunch’s death on October 15, 2020. But even as notable as her teaching influence were those quiet, private gestures of love she gave to students who may have needed socks or shoes, a new shirt or blouse, a comb or brush. “My family didn’t have much. They did the best they could. Mrs. Bunch gave me things, never in front of the others, to help us out. She made me feel as important as any other kid in her class. I have never forgotten her.” These acts of kindness make a teacher memorable even more than their expertise in the classroom. Edwina Bunch had both. Edwina Faye Porter was one of 9 children born to the late Ira “Boss” and Kate Porter from the Coxville Community in Crockett County, Tennessee. She learned early that hard work was important and that everyone should work hard. Edwina graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1951, and her blood ran orange until the night of her death. She married her sweetheart, Thomas “Buster” Bunch, on October 7, 1950, and they spent 62 years of adventures together until his death in 2012. They loved following UT sports of any type (on the radio, in person, and on TV), fishing on Beech Lake and traveling…from simple tent camping when Porter and Bryan were small to six-week treks out west with the Montgomery and Hinson families to foreign countries with David Hinson as the tour guide for the Bunches, Nancy Hinson, Dorothy Douglass, and Lottie Lee Hay. Edwina was active in the UT Alumni Association serving as Henderson County Alumni President, UTM Advisory Council, UT Women’s Council, UT Board of Governors and VP of the UT National Alumni Association. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Deborah Sunday School Class, and the United Methodist Women. And until her confinement because of Covid-19, she was an active member of 3 bridge clubs in Lexington. Prior to moving to NorthCliff Assisted Living in January 2020, Mrs. Bunch lived alone after her husband’s death in 2012. Many home health professionals would come home to take care of her during this time, but as one nurse told the family: “All of us from Home Health and I will forever treasure all the great visits we had with Mrs. Bunch. We just THOUGHT that we were there to take care of her. Little did we know, Edwina was determined to take care of US! There was not one visit that passed without her delighting in giving us a special treat that she had made. She would always warm it in the microwave and insist that we ate it while it was still warm. She was a joy to know.” In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Bunch was preceded in death by her siblings: Dr. Ira Porter, Dr. Nathan Porter, King Porter, Wayne Porter, Dr. Huey Porter, Annie Laura James, and Ida Mae Feldman. Survivors to celebrate her life include, two sons, Porter (Susie) Bunch, Bryan (Winnie) Bunch both of Lexington; one sister, Erie Kate McCord of Humboldt; three grandchildren, Tom Bunch (Lori) of Huron, Drew Bunch (Rhonnie) of Franklin, Sara Bunch (Amyn Murji) of Nashville. And Edwina’s joy of joys…her three great-grandchildren: Abigail Bunch, Zoe Bunch, and Buster Bunch. A private graveside service will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church or the charity of their choice. While Edwina’s family and friends are sad at her passing, they know this to be true: Buster’s hand was outstretched to welcome his girl to heaven, while somewhere in the distance, “Moonlight Serenade” was playing, and they danced all the way to the ballroom.

Edwina Porter Bunch

January 6, 1929 - October 15, 2020