Thornton Valentine “Curly” Bunner, 88, passed away at his home in Whitefish, Wednesday Morning, Sept. 17, 2008, of natural causes, “and is now with his Lord and Savior.”

Curly was born Dec. 27, 1919, in Eureka, to Jenny and Frank Bunner. He had one sister and many step-siblings. He was raised in Eureka and Stryker, and received his education there.

Curly enlisted in the Navy in 1938 and, while home on leave, married Ardith Adina Creon on July 14, 1944. Together they raised four children. The family enjoyed Navy life and was stationed in Japan, California; in Helena for recruiting; and Guam. Curly was on Midway island a year also. He was finally stationed in Virginia where he retired from the Navy June 15, 1959. He then went to work for the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Intelligence in the Pentagon, and was there until 1975.

He and Adina returned home to Whitefish where he built their dream log home, their "Dunrovan."

He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and had "Pearl Harbor Survivor 001" plates proudly on his pick up.

Curly was an avid fisherman, huckleberry picker and hunter. He loved the outdoors. When he could no longer be in the great outdoors, he loved enjoying the hummingbirds at his kitchen window and the deer, bear and moose at his back door.

He made friends all over the world and enjoyed attending Pearl Harbor survivors reunions until he could no longer attend.

Curly is survived by his loving bride of 64 years, Adina, of Whitefish; daughter, Patricia Kay, and family, of New York; son, Ronald Bunner, of Whitefish; daughter, Nadina Jeanne Bentley, and husband, Terry, and family, of Virginia; and daughter, Cher McLean, and husband, Tim, of Kalispell; eleven grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, and a grandson, Patrick Kay.

Curly has been cremated and a memorial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, after the family arrives. There will be a memorial notice at a later date.