Robert Gene Bunch's Obituary
Robert Gene Bunch, age 77, passed away peacefully in Dallas, Texas, on April 7th, 2025.
Robert was born in Columbia, Missouri, on June 23rd, 1947, but spent much of his childhood in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended elementary school and started junior high. He and his family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1960, and he graduated from Bryan Adams High School in 1965.
After a couple of years of college at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce), Robert enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in both Germany and Vietnam. Upon discharge, he returned to East Texas State, where he earned a bachelor's degree in photojournalism.
Robert was a talented photographer who worked for newspapers such as the Byran, Texas, Eagle and the Corpus Christi, Texas, Caller-Times, early in his career before moving back to Dallas to be closer to his family. Once back in Dallas, he embarked on a freelance career that would continue until his retirement in 2015.
Over the years Robert took photography assignments from many companies and organizations in the area, including the Texas Catholic, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Dallas, and the Advocate chain of neighborhood magazines. Many people in Dallas who receive one of the Advocate magazines have seen cover photos and photography spreads taken by Robert Bunch.
He also worked for UPI, taking photos during the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Mavericks' games. A photo he took of some children leaning over a railing to get an autograph from Bobby Valentine, manager of the Texas Rangers at the time, was once included in a Baseball Hall of Fame exhibit in Cooperstown, New York.
Robert's true passion in life, however, was nature photography and he spent many enjoyable hours photographing birds and other wildlife in Mckittrick Canyon in Guadalupe National Park and, more extensively, at White Rock Lake in Dallas. Several of these photos were published in Texas Parks and Wildlife.
When developers wanted to build a restaurant on Boy Scout Hill at White Rock Lake, Robert joined a group of like-minded individuals to protest the project, appearing at a hearing that was covered by the local media. The next day the developers backed out of the project and Boy Scout Hill remains a natural preserve.
You can watch a slideshow of Robert's work at White Rock Lake by visiting the Tribute Wall of this page.
His favorite place for photography, though, was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, which he visited at least annually for many years, scoping out locations known to attract deer, elk, moose, and his most prized subject, bears. Robert would camp for hours and sometimes days just to capture amazing photos of these animals in their natural habitat.
Robert was preceded in death by his mother, Rebecca Suan Bunch; father, William Paul Bunch; and brother, James Lynn Bunch.
He is survived by his brother, Richard Alan Bunch; sister-in-law, Debra Marie Bunch; nephews, Benjamin Aaron Bunch, and, James Nicholas Bunch; nieces, Elizabeth Grace Bunch, and, Ashley Marie Jaska; nephew-in-law, Aaron Michael Jaska; great-nephews, Jackson Paul Bunch, and, James Samuel Bunch; and great-nieces, Katherine Rebecca Bunch, and, Chloe Marie Jaska; along with his ex-wife Manon Underwood and his great friend, Anne Griffin.
We would be remiss if we did not also mention Robert's beloved dogs, a chocolate lab named Coco who passed away many years ago, and his two rescue pups, Whitey and Annie, who are now enjoying life as kennel pets at East Dallas Veterinary Clinic.
As per Robert's last wishes, no funeral will be held, but memorial donations in Robert's name may be made to the Audobon Society, your local SPCA, the National Wildlife Federation, or any other organization that supports animals and wildlife.
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