Raymond James Bungard, M.D. F.A.C.S
Raymond James Bungard, M.D. F.A.C.S
Dr. Raymond J. Bungard passed
away on January 11, 2014 at 93 years of age. Dr. Bungard was a long time
resident of Boise spending the majority of his medical career at the Veterans
Medical Center.
Ray was born on February 17, 1920
in Olds, Alberta, Canada soon after his parents Senius and Martine emigrated
from Denmark. He spent his childhood and youth in Port Angeles, Washington.
After graduating from Auburn Adventist Academy he went on to attend Walla Walla
College. During the summers Ray and his brother Stan worked in the logging
camps in the Pacific Northwest. Ray’s college years were interrupted by WWII
where he served in the Army as a Laboratory Technician in England. Upon
returning from service he finished his Pre Medical Degree at Walla Walla
College and went on to Loma Linda University School of Medicine. While at
Medical School Ray met a nurse in the cafeteria, Sheila Paulson, they were
married in 1948. Ray graduated from Medical School in 1951.
After Internship and Residency he
opened a private practice with his brother Stan in Stayton, Oregon. This was
followed by a General Surgical Residency at the Veterans Medical Center in
Portland, Oregon. In 1960 the family moved to Boise where Ray practiced as a
surgeon for the Veterans Medical Center for 35 years. He was especially
interested in vascular problems and treatment. He enjoyed his work immensely as
a staff surgeon and was appointed Chief of Surgical Service for several years;
providing leadership and training for surgical residents. Ray was a dedicated
physician, always giving top quality care to our veterans. Ray performed
thousands of surgeries during his long career. Amazingly, Ray continued to
review files and do medical exams for recruits to the age of 90; he then blamed
computers on his “second retirement”.
Ray and Sheila were blessed with
three boys. The family enjoyed spending time camping, fishing, bird hunting and
hiking in the summers. Almost every weekend in the winter the family was up at
Bogus Basin, McCall or Sun Valley; skiing was a passion for everyone. Ray was a
perfectionist, both in his work and hobbies; he excelled in everything he did.
While at Auburn Academy he took a woodworking class and crafted his first pair
of skis so he and friends could hike up the base of Mt. Rainer and ski down.
When he would buy the boys a new pair of skis he would say ‘just like I had
when I was a kid”. He loved woodworking; restoring oak roll top desks and
tables; these items had to be perfection before complete. But Ray was mainly a
camera buff; he cherished all the old style cameras, collecting and restoring
them to perfection. On family road trips
the boys would groan as Ray insisted on stopping at almost every Antique Shop
or Flea Market in search of cameras and other related items. Later in life he
also was instrumental in finding old nitrate films with his dearly departed
friend Tom Trusky. Together they worked to find Mel Shipman films and all the
reels of Roland West’s classic horror film The Bat, filmed in 1920 and donated
to the UCLA Film School.
Ray loved and cherished his
family and was a great father and provider. He was devoted to his three sons
and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them up until the end. In his later
years Ray looked forward to trips to Walla Walla to visit his brother Stan
& family. He relished the timespent there with brother Stan, “tinkering
around” with cameras. These visits always included excellent meals and extra
attention from the four nieces — he loved
that!
The family would like to thank
The Idaho State Veterans Home for their compassionate and watchful care of our
dad; we are eternally grateful for the high quality care provided during his
last year of life.
Surviving Raymond Bungard are his
three sons: James, Robert and Brent. Other remaining family include
grandchildren Rebecca and James; Nieces Karen Bungard, Marcia Anspach, Janet
Wallenkampf and Susan Bungard. Also, great nieces and nephews: Julie Anspach
& daughter Malin, Eric Anspach, Dane Joers and Karl Wallenkampf.
Instead of flowers please donate
to Ray’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or another
charity of your choice.
A Memorial Service will be held
at Alden Waggoner Funeral Home, 5400 Fairview Avenue on Saturday, January 25 at
2:30.
Per Ray’s request interment will
follow on Sunday January 26, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Walla Walla
Washington.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond James Bungard, M.D. F.A.C.S, please visit our flower store.
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