First United
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. Frederick Chris Bunning
Jan 17, 1939 - Aug 10, 2024
Frederick Chris Bunning was born to parents Walter and Velvie Vetter Bunning in Kemmerer, Wyoming, on January 17, 1939. The family moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where Fred grew up, the middle child in a group of five active and not infrequently mischievous siblings.​​
Fred attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, achieving a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and spent five years an engineer in the field of heating and air conditioning (HVAC) before eventually pivoting to his actual life’s calling as a Presbyterian minister, matriculating at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Iowa. In seminary Fred met the “love of his life”, Virginia Lee Knowlton. They married on a Sunday morning, December 20th, 1970, at the Community Presbyterian Church in Lingle, Wyoming, during worship. After their exchange of vows, the choir sang the song ‘O Perfect love’ as a wedding prayer.
​​Fred continued at seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity on December 18th, 1970, and received his ordination in 1971 at his first posting, Bethel-Linden Presbyterian Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Shortly after, Fred and Virginia had their first child, a son named Joel. Perhaps it was wanderlust that moved the family over the course of only ten years from Pennsylvania to Oregon, Illinois, where they had their second child, a daughter named Jaylyn, and then to Lancaster, Wisconsin, before settling in northern Colorado.
​In Masonville they co-pastored at the Buckhorn Presbyterian Church. Moving to Loveland, they began a new phase in their careers as tentmaker pastors, so-called after the example of the apostle Paul who made tents to support his discipleship, serving small churches while earning a living in other fields. During this time Fred learned to be an auctioneer, spent 8 years working for a moving company, and 6 years managing park concession stands for the City of Loveland. Fred served churches in Timnath, Laporte, Weldona and Red Feather Lakes, among others more far flung; he continued preaching this way well into his retirement. Virginia and Fred reached and touched the lives of many people, and they settled into a warm and kind community at “First on Fourth” Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
Fred found joy in fishing and bike riding, hobbies he shared with his wife and children, and he reveled in exploring scenic byways around the country with Virginia on their tandem recumbent trike. He tackled all types of puzzles with enthusiasm; he was an avid reader of mysteries, westerns, and various dramas, and a continuous learner, furthering his pastoral education throughout his career. He was kind and gentle and loved making people laugh with a witty “dad joke” remark. ​
Fred died peacefully at the age of 85 in Loveland, Colorado, on Saturday morning, August 10th, lying in bed and in the presence of his son, daughter, and son-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Virginia, an infant sister, his sister Verlene “Sue” Nelson, and his brother Lloyd (Pam) Bunning. Fred is survived by his children Joel Bunning and Jaylyn (Steven Linenberger) Bunning, his sister Arvalea “Arvy” Crawford, his brother Gil (Carol) Bunning, his first wife Jeanne Bleuer, and many nieces and nephews. ​
A memorial service will be held 11am Saturday, September 28th at the First United Presbyterian Church in Loveland, with a luncheon to follow. The family welcomes memorial donations to the Presbyterian Church (USA) Board of Pensions Assistance Fund in remembrance of Fred: www.pensions.org/your-path-to-wholeness/assistance-program/giving ​
His was a life of service that was both rich and full, thanks not least to God, but in no small part also to the goodness, generosity, and wonder of Fred’s own mind and heart.
Robert Frederick Jackson
Robert Frederick Jackson, 76, husband of Susan C. Jackson and father of Robert H. Jackson and Aubrey W. Jackson, of Loveland, Colorado, departed this life on December 28th, 2023 surrounded by family and friends.
Bob was born January 31st, 1947, to Catherine and Robert Jackson in Buffalo, NY. He was raised in Tonawanda, NY, then in Tacoma Park, Wheaton, and Burtonsville, Maryland. His siblings were Linda Jackson, William Jackson and Sadi "Sonny" Pekerol, Jr. Bob attended Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Maryland, where he was active in football and performed in theater productions.
After graduating, he served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1966-1968. He served in a combat artillery unit in Vietnam along the DMZ, notably fighting in battles at Khe Sanh (hills 861 and 881) and Con Thien, some of the worst fighting of the war. After the war, Bob returned to Maryland, married his high school sweetheart, Susan, and settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they had two children. There he worked for the Army War College for several years.
In 1979, Bob and Sue took their two boys on an RV trip around the United States for one year, living on the road and taking in the beauty of our nation. Afterward, they returned to Carlisle briefly before
relocating to Frederick, Maryland. There, Bob worked for a construction firm for several years before moving on to Green Thumb, a federal employment agency. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Hood College, he began working for the National Archives at our nation's capital. He worked with national records and later in the film department, administering footage from throughout American history.
For their 30th wedding anniversary, Bob and Sue traveled to Rome, Italy and London, UK, a gift from their son Bob. After retiring from the National Archives, Bob and Susan spent several years living in Frederick, Maryland, before relocating to Loveland, Colorado to be close to his son, Robert, his daughter-in-law, and his granddaughter. There he and Sue spent many wonderful years enjoying all Colorado has to offer, while still traveling back to the East Coast for visits.
Bob's favorite thing was to spend time sitting and chatting with his friends and family with a cup of coffee and a smile on his face. He loved discussing history, science, art, film, literature, nature, and the fabric of our country. He had a passion for all kinds of music and played bluegrass and folk guitar. He enjoyed drawing, fly fishing, swimming, motorcycling, camping, reading a good book, and just spending time with family. Bob could tell you volumes about any topic you might want to bring up and share with him.
Bob is survived by his wife, two sons, and his grandchildren, Catie, William, and Theodore Jackson.
Virginia Bunning
The Rev. Virginia Lee (Knowlton) Bunning died at the age of 74 on 9/5/22. Memorial service was held 11am Saturday, 9/24/22,
at First United Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
Virginia Bunning, 9/1/22, “My hands are cold my heart warm”
The Rev. Virginia Lee (Knowlton) Bunning died at the age of 74 on September 5th, 2022. Virginia was born in Torrington, Wyoming on September 14, 1947, to Jay and Betty Jean Knowlton who were farmers in Goshen County. She was the second of six children. She attended school first in Veteran where she started playing the flute in third grade and enjoyed playing it ever since. She graduated from Lingle High School, attended what is now Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in biology education. She attended Dubuque Theological Seminary for one year where she met her husband, Fred Bunning.
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Virginia taught school in Chugwater, Wyoming for one semester, and she and Fred got married during the Sunday morning worship on December 20, 1970, at the Community Presbyterian Church in Lingle, Wyoming. They moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania where Fred pastored, and their son Joel Chris was born. From there they moved to Oregon, Illinois where their daughter Jaylyn Joy was born. While there Virginia started back at seminary, and shortly after she moved with her family to Lancaster, Wisconsin.
After graduation she was ordained on February 28, 1982. She joined Fred in co-pastoring the Lancaster church and two small churches in the country outside of Rewey, Wisconsin. They then moved to Masonville, Colorado and co-pastored for 4 years before moving to Loveland, Colorado.
Virginia and Fred then decided to become “tentmaking” pastors who have other employment with their ministry being both in the church and in their place of employment. Virginia worked in Thompson Valley Schools for sixteen years. She was a paraprofessional with behaviorally challenged elementary students, a building aide helping teachers, a technologist assisting with computer use and troubleshooting, and a nurse office aide. While there she co-pastored with Fred at Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church, then left after two years to direct camps for the Presbytery of Wyoming. She then went into Interim Ministry and pastored in Dalton, Nebraska with one Presbyterian and three Lutheran churches. She also had interims inMilliken, Timnath and Otis, Colorado, and served as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks for four years.
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She then retired and spent much of her early retirement time reading, playing computer games, walking, and riding their recumbent trike. Virginia also enjoyed gardening, creating a yard that in her words “is an oasis that cheers the people who walk by. It is now the gift from God I give to others in our neighborhood.” She additionally nourished her soul communing with many friends through book groups and other gatherings, as well as at the LaPorte Presbyterian Church in Laporte, Colorado and the First United Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
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Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Peter Knowlton (Kim). She is survived by her husband Fred and their children Joel of Loveland and Jaylyn (Steven) of Denver, Colorado, as well as by her siblings all living in Wyoming: sisters DeeDee Anderson (Larry) of Worland and Becky Curless (John) of Torrington, and her brothers Warren (Amy) of Torrington and Rich (Darla) of Torrington. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. After living with ALS for the last part of her life, it’s a gift that Virginia had previously decided to donate her body to science for research. A memorial service will be held 11am Saturday, September 24th at First United Presbyterian Church in Loveland, with a luncheon to follow. Her life was good. Thanks be to God!
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. Fred Bunning
1035 20th Street SW
Loveland, CO 80537
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Virginia's memory to the PC(USA) Board of Pensions Assistance Program or the ALS Association Rocky Mountain Chapter.
Nell Worall
Nell Adams Worrall died at her home in Loveland, Colorado surrounded by family on her 95th birthday, September 12, 2022. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM October 8 at the First United Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
Nell was born in Chattanooga, TN, the daughter of the late Walter Strong Adams, Jr. and the late Catherine Inez Adams. She attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga until her marriage on July 19, 1947 to Robert Paul Worrall. Nell is best characterized as an adventurer. She and Robert led her family to new beginnings in several states and included a life-changing assignment in India. She was a lifelong advocate of civil rights, a champion of women’s issues, an early disciple of environmentalism, an avid believer in the power of volunteerism and she worked tirelessly to illustrate to others the importance of practicing Christian principles in daily life. Nell raised 5 children and helped raise many of her children’s friends who, even as adults, refer to her as Momma Nell. She frequently could be heard telling others that it is simple to join her family but difficult to exit.
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Following her graduation with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration, Nell helped establish the Hospice of Northern Virginia where she worked until she and her husband relocated to Round Hill, VA. She previously served as a contributing editor of Women’s Circle Magazine in New Delhi, India, was a docent at the Honolulu Zoo, was actively involved in operations of thrift stores in Honolulu, HI and Leesburg, VA and performed many outreach services for all the churches in each of the communities in which she lived. While in India she assisted in the creation of a service offered to expatriate employers which facilitated employment assistance and medical care for employees.
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Nell is survived by her son Rob (Michele) of Arvada, CO, son David (Jan) of Vernon, Tx, son Stephen (Nan) of Loveland, CO and son Jim (Bonnie) of Boulder, CO. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Nell was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, Mary Aletha Worrall, sister Anna Gray Johnson and brother Walter Strong Adams III.
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Memorials may be made to:
The United Negro College Fund
American Indian College Fund
First United Presbyterian Church