Laurence R. “Bunk” Bailey
“beloved husband, father, grandfather”

Shinglehouse, PA---Laurence R. “Bunk” Bailey, 87, of Shinglehouse, PA, died Wednesday, September 17, 2008 in his home following a brief illness.

Born August 31, 1921 in Richmond Township, Mansfield, PA, he was a son of Ross B. and Mildred L. Whittaker Bailey. On April 16, 1944 in Shinglehouse, PA, he married Dorothy M. “Dot” Gardner, who survives.

He graduated from Mansfield High School, class of 1938. Mr. Bailey was also a graduate of Mansfield State Teachers College where he obtained his B.S. degree in music. In 1944 Mr. Bailey was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force serving in the Philippine Islands.

He taught music in the Shinglehouse schools in 1943. After being discharged from the Army, Mr. Bailey was employed for 43 years by the former Oswayo River Telephone Company in Shinglehouse, retiring in 1987.

Mr. Bailey was a member of the First Baptist Church in Shinglehouse, where he served as a trustee and Choir Director for over 30 years. He was a life member of the Shinglehouse Volunteer Fire Department, and was a member of the Shinglehouse Volunteer Ambulance Association. He was a member of the Shinglehouse American Legion Post 530 and the Oswayo Valley Historical Society in Shinglehouse.

Mr. Bailey also served for 27 years on the Shinglehouse School Board where he was the member who motioned for the name of the school district to be changed to Oswayo Valley when the new high school was built.

Mr. Bailey was an avid golfer; he was a former member of the Coudersport Country Club, the former Evergreen Golf Club in Bolivar, NY, and the St. Bonaventure Golf Club. He was also a member of the former Odd Fellows Lodge in Shinglehouse. For several years, he was a member of the Passion Play Chorus at the Coudersport Consistory.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Laurence R. Bailey, Jr. of Galeton, PA and Timothy J. (Julie) Bailey of Olean, NY; one daughter, Lyn A. (James) King of Ceres, PA; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; one brother, Leonard M. (Shirley) Bailey of Mansfield, PA; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Bailey was predeceased by a daughter-in-law, JoAnn C. Bailey.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, PA. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the First Baptist Church, Shinglehouse, PA at 11 am with the Rev. Russell J. Horning, pastor, and the Rev. Roger N. Hain, pastor of the Grace Bible Independent Baptist Church, officiating. Committal services and burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse, PA.

Members of the Potter County Honor Guard will accord full military honors on Saturday.

Members of the Shinglehouse Volunteer Fire Department and the Shinglehouse Volunteer Ambulance Association will assemble at the funeral home on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 68, Shinglehouse, PA 16748 or to the Shinglehouse Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 98, Shinglehouse, PA 16748.