Brigadier General (Retired) Wilbur Robert Buntin, 93, husband of Frances Henry Buntin, died on  August 7 at the Hospice Care Unit in Lexington.

Wilbur was born on December 14, 1921 to the late W. R. & Ruth Johnson Buntin of Carlisle.  He was a graduate of Carlisle High School and attended University of Cincinnati before enlisting in the Army. Wilbur was the owner of Buntin's Garage in Carlisle, KY, a Dodge and International Harvester dealership which was started by his father in 1927. He was a member of the Daugherty Lodge F&AM #65 in Carlisle and the South Elkhorn Christian Church of Lexington where he served as an elder.

Wilbur was a US Army  veteran of WWII serving in the South Pacific Theater, 1944-1946.  He was appointed in the National Guard as Company Commander, Cannon Company, 149th Regimental Combat Team in Carlisle.  He was assigned various positions throughout his career including Field Artillery S-3; 201st Engineer Battalion Commander; S-2 Executive Officer; Commander of the 138th Field Artillery Group, S-2, S-3, Executive Officer; and appointed as the Commanding General of the XXIII Corp Artillery on February 11, 1974.  He was federally recognized as Brigadier General February 12, 1975.  General Buntin served as Deputy Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from October 1, 1972 until he transferred to the XXIII Corp Artillery in 1979.  He retired in 1979 from the National Guard and then served as the Executive Director of the Disaster & Emergency Services for the Commonwealth until his retirement in 1986.

General Buntin is survived by his son, Robert Henry Buntin, his daughter Rebecca Buntin (Stephen) Carter, his granddaughter, Kerr Ann Carter, Charleston, SC, his grandson, Benjamin Buntin Carter, Miami, FL, and special family friend, Elizabeth Duff. He is also  preceded in death by his two sisters, Ann Keuling, George Cord and his brother William A. Buntin.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff on the Lincoln wing of Thomson Hood Veterans Center who lovingly cared for Wilbur.

Services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Mathers-Gaunce Funeral Home by Rev. Michael Swartzentruber. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Carlisle Cemetery.

Visitation will be from  12:30 P.M. Tuesday until the time of service.

Bluegrass Hospice Care
1317 US Highway 62 East, Cynthiana KY 41031
Tel: 1-859-234-6462
Web: https://www.bgcarenav.org/give

South Elkhorn Christian Church
4343 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY 40513,
Tel: 859-223-1433
Web: www.southelkhorncc.org/

Lexington Humane Society
1600 Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington, KY 40504,
Tel: 859-233-0044
Web: lexingtonhumanesociety.org/get-involved/donate/