Obituary of Ernest Junior Gunter

Ernest Junior Gunter was born on March 20, 1932 in Ada, Oklahoma. He died peacefully at home with family gathered around him, on August 23, 2020 in Sacramento, California. He has left behind: His wife, Willma Geraldine Gunter—but only for a day. She followed him in death on August 24, 2020. His children: Marilyn Janiece Gunter Hardy (Douglas), Michael Keith Gunter (Betty), Mark Stephen Gunter (Kathy) and Mitchell Ernest Gunter (Diana). His Grandchildren: Andrea Kelleher (Steven), Leslie Thomas (Brandon), Shelly Taumohaapai (Saia), Marci Tupou (Tolo), Shalene Feltner (Bo), Stephen Gunter (Jocelyn), Nathan Gunter (Denae), Jennifer Gunter, Jesse Gunter (Candee), Jeremy Gunter (Kat), Jana Brewer. His Great-Grandchildren: Caleb, Kylie, Hailey and Cody Thomas, Reese and Knox Kelleher; Elenoa, Kalisi, Tofa and Naina Taumohaapai, Liumai, Soni, Larkin and Liz Tupou, Jonathan Feltner (deceased), Gregory Bree, Caitlin and Logan Feltner, Shalena and Kaylena Gunter, Ariyanna, Jaylen, Jayden, Akala-Joy and Alaya Gunter, Taiya, Lena, Mo and Nadia Gunter. His Tiner Sister: Mary Harris His Gunter Siblings: Sarah Self, Bobby Ray Gunter (deceased), Pat Daniels, Elizabeth Johnson, Charlie Gunter (deceased), Donna Roberts. A private viewing will be held on September 4, 2020, at Sacramento Memorial Lawn at 5:00 p.m. A private graveside service will be held on September 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. He attended McClatchy High School in Sacramento and also Sharon Bible School in Madera. On January 28, 1951, he married his sweetheart, Wilma Geraldine Farris. They had four children which has become the big Gunter clan of 61 people and growing. He proudly served in the United States Air force in Columbus, Ohio, where he was a medic and also the star pitcher of the Air Force fast pitch softball team. Ernie was always a hard worker. At the age of 14, he had a paper route, then later worked as a dairyman at a large dairy while going to high school. About the time he got married, he got a job at Campbell Soup, then enlisted in the Air Force. In 1954, he began working as Clerk at the Sacramento County courthouse, then promoted to Court Clerk, then Master Calendar Clerk. He earned a reputation with both judges and attorneys because of his wide range of knowledge and willingness to help. He was greatly respected, especially by the young attorneys. He helped them with every aspect of their cases, and they won for their clients when they took his advice. At one time, he knew every attorney in the Sacramento area. He retired from there after 35 years then went to work as an office manager at a law firm. He ended his long career after working about two years at the Yolo County Courthouse. The things that were most important to him were God, his family, extended family and his multitude of friends both old and new. He served as a leader and pillar of the church almost his whole life. He taught Sunday School for over forty years and was even the guest Sunday School teacher at our denomination’s Camp Meeting. He and Gerry were youth leaders and activity directors at Camp Meeting and Youth Camps. He served on church boards and served in the music ministry in various ways. He led the congregational hymn singing and he sang in quartets, sometimes with friends and sometimes with his sons, a very special honor for him. He and Gerry loved to go to Southern Gospel Concerts and traveled all over to be able to enjoy the great singing. Ernie loved to hunt. The joy of taking his sons on their first hunting trips was better than Christmas morning, a right of passage into man hood. He was an expert pheasant hunter. You’d better shoot quick if you wanted a bird. His sons had that competitive nature and they were all quick to shoot. He loved being with his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons on a hunting trip. In his later years, after he was 80 years old, he even won the skeet shooting contest when up against much younger competitors. He was generous. It is unknown how many meals he bought, oil changes he performed, how many gas tanks he filled, how many brake jobs he did or even how many new tires he put on cars. If there was ever a special need at church, a missionary, an evangelist, a building project? It didn’t matter. He would find a way to donate generously, even when he didn’t have much to give…God seemed to always provide what his heart’s desire was to give. If he and his wife found out someone was in need of food, they went shopping. Or someone had nothing to give their children at Christmas, they went shopping. No one knew until years later anything about these kind acts of love. He wasn’t the richest and he wasn’t famous, but among those who knew him, both young and old, he was quite a man. Thank you Dad and Grandpa for leaving us a legacy of faith, love, generosity and service. We’ll see you soon.