Dr. Frank Thomas Bunch

Dr. Frank Thomas Bunch, 63, of Fairhope, Alabama, was called home by our Gracious Father and embraced in the arms of Jesus on Saturday, August 14, 2021, in the same hospital where he completed his fellowships in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology, Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Frank was born in Cookville, Tennessee, on January 24, 1958, to Frank E. (Jack) and Mary (Arnold) Bunch, and grew up in Portland, Tennessee, with his three sisters, Jackie, Betsy, and Ginger. The four siblings created so many wonderful stories together, stories that spark beautiful laughter. During his high school years, Frank made 1975 First Team TSSAA Tennessee All-State Offensive Lineman and was selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. He graduated from Portland High School in 1976 as a successful football player whose talents and passion for the sport significantly contributed and paved the way to his higher education. His jersey number was 74. Frank played offensive line during his college years at Northwest Mississippi Junior College in Senatobia, Mississippi, from 1976 to 1979. Tennessee Technological University then recruited him to play offensive line in Cookville, Tennessee, from 1979 to 1981. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree. After receiving his Master’s degree, Frank began his journey pursuing his dreams of becoming a physician. He earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Venturing from Tennessee to Alabama, Frank completed his medical residency as chief resident at the University of South Alabama (USA) Medical Center in Mobile. While completing his internal medicine internship at USA, Frank met his future wife, Mary Eveland, soon to be Mary Bunch. Mary, at the time a flight nurse working at USA, recalls meeting a determined individual. Frank later swept Mary off her feet as she overheard a man on the opposing side of a patient privacy curtain who exemplified an immense amount of kindness, courtesy, compassion, and care during a conversation with a patient. As she took a peek to see who this remarkable man was, it was Frank. The passing of Frank devastated so many as he touched hundreds of lives through his medical practice, mentorship qualities, and friendship. The masses describe him as a brilliant cardiologist and an even better man who saved so many, whether in the cath lab or when crossing paths with others. It was his unconditional love that spoke amazing grace to a multitude of people. As stated before, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans, now known as Ochsner Medical Center, is where Frank completed his fellowships in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. It is also the place of Frank’s last breath, surrounded by so much love, where he left his body on earth to meet Jesus face to face. Dr. Frank T. Bunch was a partner with Cardiology Associates and specialized in Clinical & Interventional Cardiology and Peripheral Vascular Intervention. He was a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. The beloved doctor received certifications in both Subspecialty Board in Cardiovascular Disease and American Board of Internal Medicine and was a Chairman of New Cardiovascular Horizons. Frank lived life to the fullest. Any individual who was blessed enough to know him left his presence with a Frank story, and each one of them giving greater insight into the incredible amount of care he had for every human life. When he was not rounding his way through the hospital, Frank loved to fish, hunt, eat sardines out of the can, help others solve problems, support dreamers and good-doers like him, take walks along the beach, work on his truck radio, encourage anyone who would let him, share bear hugs, teach life lessons, talk to his father on the phone, tune into ESPN and cheer on the Tennessee Volunteers, hang out with his two pot-bellied pigs, chickens, and dogs, drink coffee, play the guitar, watch the sunset, hold his wife, dwell in the presence of family, be an astounding son, brother, husband, father, uncle, doctor, friend, and mentor, and spend time learning about and talking to our Heavenly Father. Frank was preceded in death by his father Frank E. (Jack) Bunch, mother Mary (Arnold) Bunch, father-in-law Roy Eveland, mother-in-law Barbra (Davis) Eveland, maternal grandparents Warden and Mary Opal (Thomas) Arnold, paternal grandparents Frank E. and Eva Elizabeth (Morris) Bunch, and daughter Grace Lynn Bunch. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 33 years, Mary (Eveland) Bunch; his children Justin Bunch and Jessica Bunch; his son-in-law Conner Brown; his sisters Jackie (Ken) Wilber, Betsy (Gary) Napier, and Ginger (Danny) Key; his brothers-in-law Jim (late Brenda) Eveland and John Eveland; his sisters-in-law Cathy Little and Georgia Edmiston; his nieces Sabrina Wilber, Julia Napier, and Kimberly Little; his nephews Matthew (Alison) Wilber, Jared (Hanna) Wilber, Trent (Jennifer) Napier, Drew (Jordan) Napier, Rex Little Jr., and Stefan Gislason; his great nieces and nephews Darby Wilber, Hope Wilber, Vaeda Napier, Will Napier, Wyatt Napier, Weston Napier, and; his aunts and uncles Joseph Franklin (Betty) Arnold, Carolyn Cooley, late Thomas Warden (Rachel) Arnold, Nicholas Morris and (late Wilese) Bunch, Rebecca Ann (Becky) and Jolly McKenzie; cousins Nicole (Snorri) Gislason, and late Brian Bunch; and his beloved four legged children Sheila, Sassy, Lorna, and the rest of the farm. The family will receive friends, 4:00 PM, August 28th at Mars Hill Church, located in Fairhope at 17176 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at 5:00 PM at the same location, Mars Hill Church. Please click on this link for livestreaming the service https://vimeo.com/591160053 Flowers may be delivered to Mars Hill Church on August 28th before 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Women’s Care Medical Center, (251) 947-2111, P.O. Box 1610 Robertsdale, AL, 36567, in honor of Frank. https://vimeo.com/591160053 ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO RD FAIRHOPE, AL 36532 (251) 990-7775