Allan R. Bunner

Allan Robert Bunner, born April 12, 1932, was called home to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 4:00 a.m. He was in the Donnell House in Washington, PA. A man of action, substance, and spiritual strength, Allan Bunner was born to a humble depression-era family in a house on Clark Street in Washington, PA. He was the fourth of eight children born to the late Frederick Sevor Bunner and Thelma Louise Cahill Bunner. Allan was raised in the blue-collar Tylerdale neighborhood of Washington on Tyler Avenue. Allan was taught about worshipping God and working hard from an early age. His dad worked in the glass plants of Washington, PA, and Allan helped his dad deliver coal after school to support the family during the Great Depression. Allan and his siblings walked to Sunday school at the Church of Christ on Brookside Avenue in the West End. He was baptized there as a young man and remained loyal to the Washington Church of Christ (presently at 700 Allison Avenue) for the rest of his life. He taught Sunday school for many years. Allan considered introducing his young children to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, as the greatest gift he had ever given them. Allan attended Clark Elementary School and graduated from Washington High School in 1950. While at Wash High, Allan participated in many sports and was a stellar pitcher for the baseball team. He was respectfully known as “Burner Bunner” for his fastball and pitched both sides of a double-header more than once. He met the love of his life at Wash High, Mary Ann Foil, and they were married on May 18, 1952. They were husband and wife for almost 72 years upon his death. Mary Ann Bunner survives her loving husband. After high school, Allan followed his dad’s example and worked for various glass plants in Washington, PA. After a brief stint at Piatt Machine Company, Allan was drafted during the Korean War and proudly served his country from 1952 to 1954. During the war, Allan was promoted to Staff Sergeant in Company H, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Division (having previously served with the 45th Division) and received the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). His Division was an integral part of setting up the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that remains as the buffer zone between a communist North Korea and a free South Korea. On July 28, 2016, Allan was presented with the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal by U.S. Senator Pat Toomey. When returning home, Allan earned his Associate Degree in Business from Penn Commercial Business School while taking extension courses in business from Penn State. He started working at Fairmont Supply Company (mining and industrial supplies), handwriting purchase orders, and thirty-three years later retired as Director of Sales & Marketing. After leaving Fairmont Supply, Allan and his son Jeff started The Bunner Agency (TBA, Inc.), specializing in the nationwide marketing of industrial and mining products. Allan remained a business consultant and marketing visionary well into his 80s. Known as an ingenious innovator of marketing strategies combined with intense work, he developed a new version of a product (steel man door) for the mining industry in his later years with the cooperation of his son-in-law, Tom Flickinger. He served two terms as Washington City Councilman (elected 1976 & 2004) and was part of the group that revitalized downtown Washington in the 1970s, including the building of Millcraft Center Building. Allan was a member Kiwanis, Elks, and the American Legion member. He was an avid Steelers and Pirates fan and held the distinction of attending the 7th game of the 1960 World Series in Pittsburgh when Bill Mazeroski hit the game-winning home run. Allan was an avid golfer and posted two holes-in-one during his playing time. He loved spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. Allan enjoyed traveling to historical sites and the beach. Surviving Allan are daughters Debra Flickinger (Tom) of Washington, PA, and her twin-sister, Denise Lasota (Dave) of Washington, PA; a son, Jeff Bunner (Renea) of Pittsburgh, PA, and a son, Matthew Bunner (Kimberly Love) of Mt. Lebanon, PA; grandchildren Tricia Bryker (Chris) of Washington, PA, Christopher Flickinger (Annissa) of Washington, PA, Jacob Allan Bunner of Los Angeles, CA, Emily LaSota (Kat) of Hinckley, Ohio, Michelle Ochs (Ben) of Ithaca, NY, Kylie Hand (Scott) of Drexel Hill, PA, Haylee Bunner of New York City, NY, and Cameron Bunner of Pittsburgh, PA; 9 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are brothers Fred Bunner (Wanda) of Chesapeake, VA, Frank Bunner (late Yolanda) of Tennessee and Jim Bunner (Betty) of Mt. Juliet, TN. Deceased are Allan’s parents, a sister, Mildred Henderson; brothers Bernard Bunner, Louis Bunner and David Bunner; grandson Jonathan Drew Flickinger; and daughter-in-law Kim Bunner. Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, PA. A life well lived for God and his family. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”