William “Bill” Bundy, 75 of Drexel, Missouri passed away May 4, 2023 under hospice care at the home of Missie Good in Amsterdam, Missouri.
Cremation, with a Celebration of Life service scheduled for 2:00 pm Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400). Memorial contributions may be made to any animal shelter or to the Cass County Historical Society, or Good Shepherd Hospice. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
William Harley Bundy was born February 3, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Hospital in Kansas City, MO. The son of T.C. Bundy, Jr. and Olivan Marquis Bundy.
Bill attended 12 years of school in Drexel MO then on to M.U., K-State, K.U. and the London School of Economics. He took piano lessons in Harrisonville MO, swimming lessons in Paola KS, horn lessons for school band, taught himself guitar and took flying lessons from LeRoy Cook in Butler MO. Together, the boys learned to operate the bulldozer T.C. bought and dug the hole for the Drexel swimming pool.
The Bundy boys were in scouting and participated in all sports. They were part of the team that took 3rd in its class at the state basketball tournament. The twins went on to pole vault at MU. Beginning in their elementary years, they were in the library’s summer reading program, church youth activities, summer league baseball and later, town team basketball. They honed their skills with cousin Mike Westhoff, at Uncle Bob’s pool hall, built and raced soapbox derby cars – practicing by rolling down the hill west from Glenn Hill’s house, were competitive at board games at Granma Bundy’s house and liked helping her Lisle Home Club ladies when the KC bird dog club was there.
T.C. Bundy took his family to trap shoots, sports competitions anywhere, and on educational vacations (before AC in cars). Bill did summer work on Kodiak Island, visited London, Denver, Las Vegas, Sherman TX (tracing family history), Hawaii, England, France, Brazil, and panned for gold with Bob in Alaska. Before Lucile Bundy’s death, there were many holiday, birthday or other dinners for her extended family at various homes.
There were Marquis family reunions. Harley and Ina Marquis had a huge strawberry patch where all the kids worked weeding & picking (and eating). The Bundy children learned to water ski behind Harley’s boat and to roller skate while Harley and Ina operated the Lions club’s roller rink where Bill & Bob helped mop floors after dances in the building. Trips with their Marquis grandparents fishing, to the Boat Sports & Travel show and ice hockey and the ice capades in KC were a yearly experience. Because Harley drove the bus for the school, he was there as the children attended the American Royal, NAIA basketball and all the away games during high school.
Until Bob’s death in 1998, the boys tried to get together daily. They farmed with their dad, rode motorcycles, enjoyed coffee and conversations around the table with their friends and golfing with their buddies. Bill enjoyed cooking from his garden and caring for his pets. He could repair anything presented to him and could have become whatever he chose; but he didn’t follow just one pursuit; he was interested in everything and everybody – a great thinker, reader, researcher and debater.
Bill would want mentioned coaches who influenced his life: Delbert Shipps, Jess Carter, Larry Edmonds, Bill Hunt, church youth leaders, and his father. He’d say his Aunt Venita also. Mont & Vernita Hart, Dick & Gen Navarro, David & Mary Ann Davenport, Ralph Morrison, Uncle Billy Mills, Sandy & Darrell Nelson, David Branaman, Dean Shideler, Ralph Gillogly, Herman Taylor, Doc Hatten, Kenny Gentry, the Ballentine family, Doc Marsh, Donnie Hatch, Nick Minks, Larry Hocker, former opponents who became life-long friends, The group at DiLiMy in Archie and waitresses everywhere.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, twin brother Bob Bundy, and niece Abbey Bundy. He is survived by his sister Anna Lee Lankford of Hollister, MO., nieces, Brooke Bundy McNally and Lacey Lankford Parada of Hollister, MO., and dear friend Missie Good along with cousins and many friends.
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