6/10/2013
Leroy “Roy” Phillip Bundens, 96, of Lancaster, died on June 10, 2013, at Hospice & Community Care after a brief stay. He was the husband of Marjorie Jean (Lewis) Bundens, with whom he shared many wonderful years; this June 28th would have marked their 72-year anniversary. Born in Paulsboro, New Jersey, Roy was the son of the late Benjamin K. and Lillian (Wren) Bundens. He was the valedictorian of his class, and his teachers, without his knowledge, put in for a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, making him the first person in his family to attend college. Roy married his sweetheart, Marjorie, as soon as she graduated from high school, by which time he had been drafted into the Army. As WWII started, he was sent to officer training and went overseas soon after the birth of his first daughter. Roy served honorably in the South Pacific and was glad to return to his young family after an absence of nearly three years. After leaving the service, he moved to Lancaster for a job at RCA, where he remained employed till his retirement in 1977. In later years, Roy occasionally noted that if he had any idea he would live so long, he probably wouldn’t have bothered taking early retirement! Family was always the most important thing in Roy’s life, though occasionally his love of duplicate bridge was an extremely close second. Later in life, Roy replaced bridge with the much healthier hobby of golf. After he had to give up golf, he was still out walking five miles a day. No longer able to walk the roads of Homestead Village in his final year, he was still seen walking its hallways to stay in shape! Roy was raised on a farm, so gardening was in his blood. While living in Soudersburg, summer evenings were devoted to his large vegetable garden, providing healthy food for his growing family. The gardens shrunk with the size of the home, but even a later apartment with no yard had the tomatoes on the patio. Roy remained an avid Phillies fan throughout his life. A long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, Roy became more active after his retirement. His brother-inlaw, the late William Bard, helped get Roy involved in the Leola Lions Club, which then became an important part of his life. Many may remember his famous apple pies made for Lions, the secret recipe seldom revealed! In addition to his wife, Roy is survived by two daughters, Bonnie L., widow of the late Dorsey Howard Jr., of Harrisburg, and Dianne J., wife of Dennis Stenerson, of Rockford, IL; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (Calvin) Rosenberry, Dorsey M. Howard, Nicole Howard and Angela Miller of Harrisburg, Susan (Tony) Cline of Upton, MA, Kristen Weiss (Alex Padamsee) of Faversham, England, and Valerie Stenerson of Rockford, IL; and six great-grandchildren: Ashley and Taylor Cline, Maya and Keira Padamsee, and Tyler and Taran Miller. Also surviving are a sister, Edna, wife of the late William Bard, of New Holland, a brother, Lawrence “Larry” (Audrey) Bundens of Mickleton, NJ, and numerous nieces and nephews. Roy was preceded in death by his two sons, Robert Frank “Butch” and Roy Phillip “Phil” Bundens; a sister, Lillian Seery; and two brothers, Frank G. and Benjamin K. Bundens Jr. The family wishes to extend their deep gratitude for the caring staff of Homestead Village and especially of Hospice & Community Care, whose loving support allowed Marjorie to care for her husband in their apartment in his last year. A memorial service to celebrate Roy’s life will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2013, 11:00 AM, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, 538 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. The family will greet friends from 10:30 AM until the service in Women’s Memorial Room, as well as following the service in Emerson Hall, where light refreshments will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions be made to the church, or to Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604- 4125. Furman Home for Funerals, Leola. FurmanFuneralHome.com