Graveside services for Lieutenant Commander Ronald Eldred Buntley, Jr, age 79, of Tullahoma  will be conducted Thursday at 1:00PM at Booneville Cemetery. Cdr. Buntley passed away Saturday night in Harton Hospital.

He was a native of Lincoln County and the son of the late Ronald Eldred and Alberta Faulkner Buntley, Sr. Cdr. Buntley began his navy career in enlisted ranks as a Seabee and which carried him througth the war in Vietnam and in better times, a tour of duty in Antarctica and discovery of “Buntley’s Bluff”. Prior to his retirement Cdr. Buntley served at Seabee headquarters as Equipment Officer with construction equipment requirements on Diego Garcia as a major responsibility. Upon his retirement he continued his line of work in Civil Service at China Lake Naval Base and Cape Canavral. He returned home in 1989 and enjoyed time with his friends and family while raising cattle.

Survivors include his wife Gail Jones Buntley of Tullahoma, two sons Kyle Buntley and wife Jill of Bakersfield, CA, Mark Ryan and wife Jody of DE, daughter Janae Spinka and husband John of AK, grandchildren Jade Ryan, Christopher Lafe, Jarrett Buntley and Ryan Buntley. He was preceded in death by two brothers Robert and Phillip Buntley and sister JoAnn.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.