Jerry Bunn
August 31, 1947
October 11, 2019
Age 72
"Jerry Michael "Mike" Bunn, 72, of Fredericksburg, passed away on October 11, 2019 after a prolonged struggle with heart disease.
Born in Galax, VA to Beulah (Bunn) Harris and Raymond Bunn; he graduated from Galax High School in 1965 where he played tennis and football, and became interested in English and history. At VA Tech, he was a member of Phi Alpha Theta history honors fraternity and president of the History Club, and awarded a B.A. (1969) and M.A. (1970) in History. His area of expertise was American relations with Russia. While at Tech, he began his life-long love of motorcycles.
Mike studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, CA, and served in the United States Army Security Agency as a Russian linguist (1970-74). He was a Sergeant and All-Mission Controller for Delta squadron at the Wobeck Detachment Field Station in Augsburg, Germany.
Mike was an American History, Government, and English Teacher and Social Studies Department Chairman at Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, retiring in 2002 after a 28-year career. He set up the Advance Placement program in History at Gar-Field for top performers in Prince William County schools, and received Teacher of the Year award.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judy Ann (Osborne) Bunn; his son, Christopher Michael Bunn, and wife Gina Filiberto; and his grand-dog Nox; his mother Beulah Harris; sister, Karen Seaton; and brother Mark Bunn.
A private family memorial will be scheduled at a later date. "
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Tribute Wall
Judy--so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Thinking of you and your family.
Kim Perkins Barbee
- Kim Perkins Barbee
I graduated from Gar-Field in 1989. I retained and rely upon the things I learned in Mr. Bunn's class far and away more than anything I learned in high school -- and college for that matter. Today was one of those days when some random thing reminded me
- Tom Murphy
I was privileged to teach with Mike at Gar-Field. He was an excellent teacher and colleague. Many prayers for his family and all that knew him.
- Meg Gruber
Judy, very sorry to hear of Mike's passing.
Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary McCauley
- Mary McCauley
I went to Gar-Field High and graduated in 1991. Mr. Bunn was truly one of my favorite teachers. I loved learning in his class, and history is not one of my strong suits. He is one of the main reasons I attended VA Tech - his stories made it sound wonde
- Heidi Dieringer
Sorry I am just finding out now about Mr. Bunn. I graduated in 1985. Mr. Bunn made American Studies 1 come to life. I took his class as a junior in the 1983-84 school year. His love of sock ties, TR, Rugged Individualism, VT, his “Rules”. Here is one of them that I can recite 39 years later:
Bunn’s Rule of Truth -
a) Truth is relative to the perception of the individual.
b) The winner determines the truth.
Intensely and unsparingly accurate rule to use when reading any historical text, especially when the facts and circumstances surrounding events depicted are disputed or otherwise controversial.
I just wish I could recall Bunn’s Rule of Noses. Can anyone help with that?
My condolences to all that knew and loved him. Please know he left an indelicate impression on hundreds if not thousands of his students. I am but one. He was one of the most gifted teachers I have ever encountered. He was far superior to many of my college professors.
- Ray Barrante
I hate autocorrect. I wrote that he left an indelible impression and autocorrect changed the word after the fact.
- Ray Barrante
Jerry Bunn
August 31, 1947 - October 11, 2019