Betty Monroe Bunker November 27, 1927 - February 23, 2011 Betty Monroe Bunker was born on November 27, 1927, in Bakersfield, California, the third of four children of Harry W. Monroe, Sr. and Mabel Monroe. She passed away at home from cancer, a most unforgiving disease, on February 23, 2011. Betty grew up on the oil leases by the Kern River. She attended Bakersfield High School where she was one of the first two female yell leaders, normally a male held position. She "caught" Bruce F. Bunker at a Sadie Hawkins dance while they were attending Porterville Junior College. She then completed her degree in Sociology at UCLA while Bruce attended law school at USC. Betty married Bruce in June 1949, happily celebrating their honeymoon rather than attending her UCLA graduation ceremonies. Betty was a homemaker and quiet community activist. She loved to golf, garden, read and travel with Bruce. She was a wonderful cook. Most family celebrations centered around conversation, the kitchen and delicious meals shared. Betty loved her family and community deeply. She was a volunteer Court House docent leading educational tours for school-aged children, volunteered with the YWCA, American Heart Association , and American Cancer Society , and was also a leader in Campfire Girls and Bluebirds. Betty was a Renaissance woman who was able to handle any task, physical or intellectual. She handled plumbing, electrical and garden undertakings like a professional. Betty was the family "Google" long before computers came into vogue. Betty was an avid sports fan, and the friendly USC vs. UCLA rivalry in the household was infamous. She followed many sports on television, was always happy to talk professional or college ball and often predicted winners of games. When told her granddaughter Abby and her family were moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for work, Betty's first comment was "Well, LSU has a really good basketball team." She is preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Bruce F. Bunker, infant son Charles F. Bunker, mother Mabel Monroe Frame, father Harry Monroe, Sr., sister Merle Adolfson, brother Harry Monroe, Jr., and nephew Cary Letsinger. She is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Bunker-Kishimoto, Carolyn Bunker and Robin Bunker Bishop, son-in-law William Bishop, grandchildren Mary Bishop Amaral, Abbigail Bishop Brown and husband Sereno Brown, Bill Bishop, Alisa Bishop Chase and husband Travis Chase, Mari Kishimoto, and Andrew Kishimoto, and great grandchildren Katie Amaral, Joey Amaral, Madeleine Brown and Emma Brown. She is also survived by her sister Ann Letsinger and husband Jerry Letsinger, brother-in-law and sister-in- law Rodney and Marie Bunker, sister-in-law Marthellen Petersen, cousins Ralph and Diane Barkey, Nancy Phillips and uncle Bill Monroe, as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews and friends. The family wishes to acknowledge the love and treasured friendship of Susan Gill and Bill Malloy, who made sure Betty had the newspaper on her porch daily and the latest neighborhood news. The family would also like to acknowledge the special care and companionship given to her by Guadalupe C. Gonzalez. Graveside services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, California on Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CSUB Foundation, 9001 Stockdale Highway 19AW, Bakersfield, CA 93311, or to a charity of your choice. www.bakersfield.com/obits
Published in Bakersfield Californian on March 3, 2011