Ray Allan Bunting, accomplished businessman
Ray Allan Bunting, 71, of Rehoboth Beach slept away peacefully Thursday, April 25, 2019, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford.
Ray was born Sept. 14, 1947, in Lewes. He was predeceased by his father, Alvah Freeman Bunting in 1949; his mother, Bertha Mae Lingo Vickers in 1994; his stepfather, Charles Vickers in 2007; and a brother, Gerald Lee Bunting in October 2018.
Ray leaves behind his wife, Robin Gordon Bunting, his partner in life for 33 years. He is also survived by daughter Dr. Lori Hudson Stark and her husband David of Tucson, Ariz., and daughter Tara Arnold and husband George of State College, Pa. Ray had five grandchildren: Bryn Hudson, 22, a sophomore at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn.; Lauren Arnold, 17, a junior at State College High, State College, Pa.; Quinn Hudson, 16, a sophomore at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson; Ashlyn Arnold, 14, eighth grade, Mount Nittany Middle School, State College; and Geordan Arnold, 6, kindergarten, Mount Nittany Elementary, State College.
He also leaves a brother, Charles R. Vickers and his wife Nancy of Lewes; and a sister-in-law, Christy Bunting of Virginia Beach, Va.; two nephews, Michael Bunting and wife Lindsay of Virginia Beach, Va., and Will Short Vickers of Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Jessica Bunting of Gaithersburg, Md., and Morgann Moser Ridgeway of Cross Junction, Va.; an uncle, William R. Bunting of Millsboro; and former wife, Dr. Susan Bunting of Selbyville.
Ray graduated as a member of the class of 1965 from Millsboro High School. He attended Benjamin Franklin University and the Capitol School of Technology.
Ray embarked on a career that started as director of security for the Hecht Companies in Washington/Baltimore where he was offered a position in their retail divisions as a buyer. He retired as senior vice president of Hecht’s parent company, May Department Stores.
He was the president of Smith Apparel for several years with locations in Selbyville, Ocean City and Fenwick, and Waterworks in Bethany and Rehoboth. In 1986, Ray was encouraged to pursue a career in real estate in Ocean City, Md.
It didn’t take long to realize that Ray had found his calling. With virtually no training, he rose to the top of the company for Heritage Development Corporation and placed No. 1 in sales for 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was invited to participate in an international competition for resort sales and placed in the top two in his division. With this international recognition came a job offer to join a team being recruited to sell a resort condominium property on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten. After seven years and with inventory dwindling, an international development firm pursued Ray to head their Resort Development and Sales division with the acquisition of the then 4 Star Oyster Pond Hotel. Ray’s creativity and flair for design was key to the development of a resort environment with competitive amenity components. As project directors for Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Ray and Robin were recognized as Project Directors for the Fastest Selling Resort in the Caribbean by the American Resort Development Association.
Upon returning to the U.S. after 10 years, Ray was attracted to South Carolina for their base, and after a brief stint in Murrell’s Inlet, he settled in Hilton Head and enjoyed great success there as a sales manager for a Canadian builder/developer. This success earned him the offer for the directorship at at the oceanfront Royal Floridian Resort in Ormond Beach, Fla.
After retirement and returning to Sussex County in early 2013, Ray was offered a position with a local homebuilder. His years of experience and winning personality made rising to the top easy. In early 2017, Ray left his position with LC Homes and started Bunting Real Estate Group LLC, with the intention of working in general real estate sales.
In May 2017, Ray started exhibiting symptoms that weren’t easily diagnosed. After two months, he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor and given a terminal diagnosis of 12-14 months. Ever the fighter, Ray rose to the challenge. Following brain surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, Ray spent time with his children and grandchildren, renewed old friendships, kayaked, went to Georgetown Speedway for every race and vowed to beat his diagnosis. In October 2018, he danced at his niece Morgann’s wedding in Western Maryland. His positive attitude and unfailing smile lit up every room he walked into.
The week before Easter, he had three friends he wanted to visit one last time and arrangements were made for him to make the trip to see them, traveling to Eastern and Southern West Virginia. His journey was coming to an end. His list was complete.
Ray had a broadly diversified career, and was involved in many hobbies and organizations. He was the youngest member of the American Society of Industrial Security, past president of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce and was elected to two five-year terms on the Indian River School Board. He was a former president of the board of the Fenwick Branch of Delaware National Bank. He had served as president of the Eastern Shore Hunters Association and is a former member of the Selbyville Fire Department. He was a member of the St. Maarten Golf Association, the Eastern Caribbean Golf Association and the U.S. Navy League in St. Maarten.
Ray was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and sang bass in the Chancel Choir. He was a member of the Paw Paw Church of Christ, the Sussex County Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Delaware Home Builders Association. He was also active with the Eastern Sussex Republican Club and was an associate member of the Sussex County Republican Women’s Club. He was a member of the Indian River Yacht Club, the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club, the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, and a lifetime member of both the Single Action Shooting Society and the National Rifle Association. He looked forward most to the monthly luncheons with his beloved class of 1965 from Millsboro High School.
Visitations for Ray will be held Saturday, May 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 5 to 7 p.m., at Watson Funeral Home, 211 South Washington St., Millsboro. A Celebration of Life will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 5, at Grace United Methodist Church, 330 Church St., Millsboro. Interment will follow at Millsboro Cemetery, East State Street, Millsboro.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 26, at the Paw Paw Church of Christ, Paw Paw, W.Va., with Minister Richard White officiating. There will be a meal at the church following the service.
Ray loved flowers. Memorial donations can be made to the Millsboro Fire Department or Grace United Methodist Church, Millsboro.
