The following is quoted from the "Daily Press" newspaper article of August 22, 1971:
Bunting, 93, Recalls 'Old Days'
By Robert Graves
Daily Press Staff Reporter
POQUOSON--Joseph F. Bunting Sr. of Poquoson recalls the old days on the Peninsula when he went to work, not by car pool on smooth paved roads, but by boat.
"After that, I drove to work in an open model-T Ford," he said.
"I didn't miss a minute's work in all the time I worked for the C & O Railway...I couldn't afford any broken time in my pay.
"It was a lot of hard work, but it was a pleasure for me to work and earn enough money to meet the family expenses."
Bunting worked for the railway in the repair shops in Newport News for 25 years. Before that, he was a waterman, earning his living by what he could take from the sea.
Elderly now--he will quietly observe his 93rd birthday with a small family event highlighted by ice cream and cake--he remembers when he negotiated the rutted, muddy roads from Newport News to Messick (now Poquoson) in his model-T and not always making it home.
"One time, from Christmas to March when everything was icy and frozen, I had to leave the car until the roads became better," Bunting said. "I would leave a sign: 'My car is in here, be careful.' Those were the days when you could safely leave your car."
It was a model-T, purchased in 1920 from a man who worked for the Newport News Record, a newspaper later merged with the Daily Press.
Since he was driving, he felt the need for a road to his house, so he constructed Buntings Lane with the help of his children.
"It took 100 loads of material, but I made the lane the best road in Poquoson," he said.
He later graduated to a model-A Ford and one of his daughters, Mrs. C.B. Johnson, says she remembers learning to drive it when she was 13.
Before he became motorized, Bunting kept his boat in the Newport News boat harbor and lived on it during the week while working with the railway. On weekends, he would take the boat home to be with his family.
"There have been wonderful changes since 1920," commented Bunting.
"The younger generation would not believe it."
There were stores in the area now known as Poquoson, but they were harder to get to and many people walked to them.
"You went a long ways then after a jar of molasses," Mrs. Johnson explained.
Bunting said he bought sugar for four cents a pound and raised 700 to 800 pounds of meat a year.
"I had plenty of vegetables in the garden and I would prepare a keg of salted fish to eat during the winter," he said.
Schools in those days were different from the educational plants now in Poquoson.
"I went to a two-room school house and our teacher probably had about one year in college."
Bunting proudly wears the badge which proclaims him the oldest member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows in the U.S.A.
"I am the only man in the U.S. who can legally wear it," he said, adding that it was given to him by the State Grand Marshal.
He has been a member of the Poquoson Chapter 100F for 70 years.
He is also proud that he has been a member of the Red Men for 50 years, the Junior Order United Mechanics for 50 years and the Degree of Pocahontas for 44 years.
He said his three daughters each spend time with him and Mrs. Bunting, helping to care for them.
"The Bible says, 'Cast your bread upon the waters,'" Bunting said.
"Now, I am reaping my reward.
"I am satisfied with my life."
Below is Mr. Bunting's obituary from "The Daily Press" of Newport News, VA:
Joseph Bunting
POQUOSON--Joseph Frank Bunting Sr., 95, 51 Bunting Lane, Poquoson, a retired employee of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co., died Thursday at home.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Poquoson; its Men's Bible Class; York Lodge 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Yorktown Council 66, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Red Cloud Tribe 58, Improved Order of Red Men, and Quindie Roe Council 42, Degree of Pocahontas
He had belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge 75 years and was believed to be the oldest member of the order in the United States.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Georgia S. Bunting; three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Spain, Mrs. Clarence Johnson, and Mrs. Elmer Lee Goodson Sr. of Poquoson; three sons, Edd Bunting and John Wesley Bunting of Poquoson and J. Frank Bunting of Seaford; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Claytor Rollins Funeral Home is in charge.
Bunting, 93, Recalls 'Old Days'
By Robert Graves
Daily Press Staff Reporter
POQUOSON--Joseph F. Bunting Sr. of Poquoson recalls the old days on the Peninsula when he went to work, not by car pool on smooth paved roads, but by boat.
"After that, I drove to work in an open model-T Ford," he said.
"I didn't miss a minute's work in all the time I worked for the C & O Railway...I couldn't afford any broken time in my pay.
"It was a lot of hard work, but it was a pleasure for me to work and earn enough money to meet the family expenses."
Bunting worked for the railway in the repair shops in Newport News for 25 years. Before that, he was a waterman, earning his living by what he could take from the sea.
Elderly now--he will quietly observe his 93rd birthday with a small family event highlighted by ice cream and cake--he remembers when he negotiated the rutted, muddy roads from Newport News to Messick (now Poquoson) in his model-T and not always making it home.
"One time, from Christmas to March when everything was icy and frozen, I had to leave the car until the roads became better," Bunting said. "I would leave a sign: 'My car is in here, be careful.' Those were the days when you could safely leave your car."
It was a model-T, purchased in 1920 from a man who worked for the Newport News Record, a newspaper later merged with the Daily Press.
Since he was driving, he felt the need for a road to his house, so he constructed Buntings Lane with the help of his children.
"It took 100 loads of material, but I made the lane the best road in Poquoson," he said.
He later graduated to a model-A Ford and one of his daughters, Mrs. C.B. Johnson, says she remembers learning to drive it when she was 13.
Before he became motorized, Bunting kept his boat in the Newport News boat harbor and lived on it during the week while working with the railway. On weekends, he would take the boat home to be with his family.
"There have been wonderful changes since 1920," commented Bunting.
"The younger generation would not believe it."
There were stores in the area now known as Poquoson, but they were harder to get to and many people walked to them.
"You went a long ways then after a jar of molasses," Mrs. Johnson explained.
Bunting said he bought sugar for four cents a pound and raised 700 to 800 pounds of meat a year.
"I had plenty of vegetables in the garden and I would prepare a keg of salted fish to eat during the winter," he said.
Schools in those days were different from the educational plants now in Poquoson.
"I went to a two-room school house and our teacher probably had about one year in college."
Bunting proudly wears the badge which proclaims him the oldest member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows in the U.S.A.
"I am the only man in the U.S. who can legally wear it," he said, adding that it was given to him by the State Grand Marshal.
He has been a member of the Poquoson Chapter 100F for 70 years.
He is also proud that he has been a member of the Red Men for 50 years, the Junior Order United Mechanics for 50 years and the Degree of Pocahontas for 44 years.
He said his three daughters each spend time with him and Mrs. Bunting, helping to care for them.
"The Bible says, 'Cast your bread upon the waters,'" Bunting said.
"Now, I am reaping my reward.
"I am satisfied with my life."
Below is Mr. Bunting's obituary from "The Daily Press" of Newport News, VA:
Joseph Bunting
POQUOSON--Joseph Frank Bunting Sr., 95, 51 Bunting Lane, Poquoson, a retired employee of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co., died Thursday at home.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Poquoson; its Men's Bible Class; York Lodge 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Yorktown Council 66, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Red Cloud Tribe 58, Improved Order of Red Men, and Quindie Roe Council 42, Degree of Pocahontas
He had belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge 75 years and was believed to be the oldest member of the order in the United States.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Georgia S. Bunting; three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Spain, Mrs. Clarence Johnson, and Mrs. Elmer Lee Goodson Sr. of Poquoson; three sons, Edd Bunting and John Wesley Bunting of Poquoson and J. Frank Bunting of Seaford; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Claytor Rollins Funeral Home is in charge.
The following is quoted from the "Daily Press" newspaper article of August 22, 1971:
Bunting, 93, Recalls 'Old Days'
By Robert Graves
Daily Press Staff Reporter
POQUOSON--Joseph F. Bunting Sr. of Poquoson recalls the old days on the Peninsula when he went to work, not by car pool on smooth paved roads, but by boat.
"After that, I drove to work in an open model-T Ford," he said.
"I didn't miss a minute's work in all the time I worked for the C & O Railway...I couldn't afford any broken time in my pay.
"It was a lot of hard work, but it was a pleasure for me to work and earn enough money to meet the family expenses."
Bunting worked for the railway in the repair shops in Newport News for 25 years. Before that, he was a waterman, earning his living by what he could take from the sea.
Elderly now--he will quietly observe his 93rd birthday with a small family event highlighted by ice cream and cake--he remembers when he negotiated the rutted, muddy roads from Newport News to Messick (now Poquoson) in his model-T and not always making it home.
"One time, from Christmas to March when everything was icy and frozen, I had to leave the car until the roads became better," Bunting said. "I would leave a sign: 'My car is in here, be careful.' Those were the days when you could safely leave your car."
It was a model-T, purchased in 1920 from a man who worked for the Newport News Record, a newspaper later merged with the Daily Press.
Since he was driving, he felt the need for a road to his house, so he constructed Buntings Lane with the help of his children.
"It took 100 loads of material, but I made the lane the best road in Poquoson," he said.
He later graduated to a model-A Ford and one of his daughters, Mrs. C.B. Johnson, says she remembers learning to drive it when she was 13.
Before he became motorized, Bunting kept his boat in the Newport News boat harbor and lived on it during the week while working with the railway. On weekends, he would take the boat home to be with his family.
"There have been wonderful changes since 1920," commented Bunting.
"The younger generation would not believe it."
There were stores in the area now known as Poquoson, but they were harder to get to and many people walked to them.
"You went a long ways then after a jar of molasses," Mrs. Johnson explained.
Bunting said he bought sugar for four cents a pound and raised 700 to 800 pounds of meat a year.
"I had plenty of vegetables in the garden and I would prepare a keg of salted fish to eat during the winter," he said.
Schools in those days were different from the educational plants now in Poquoson.
"I went to a two-room school house and our teacher probably had about one year in college."
Bunting proudly wears the badge which proclaims him the oldest member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows in the U.S.A.
"I am the only man in the U.S. who can legally wear it," he said, adding that it was given to him by the State Grand Marshal.
He has been a member of the Poquoson Chapter 100F for 70 years.
He is also proud that he has been a member of the Red Men for 50 years, the Junior Order United Mechanics for 50 years and the Degree of Pocahontas for 44 years.
He said his three daughters each spend time with him and Mrs. Bunting, helping to care for them.
"The Bible says, 'Cast your bread upon the waters,'" Bunting said.
"Now, I am reaping my reward.
"I am satisfied with my life."
Below is Mr. Bunting's obituary from "The Daily Press" of Newport News, VA:
Joseph Bunting
POQUOSON--Joseph Frank Bunting Sr., 95, 51 Bunting Lane, Poquoson, a retired employee of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co., died Thursday at home.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Poquoson; its Men's Bible Class; York Lodge 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Yorktown Council 66, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Red Cloud Tribe 58, Improved Order of Red Men, and Quindie Roe Council 42, Degree of Pocahontas
He had belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge 75 years and was believed to be the oldest member of the order in the United States.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Georgia S. Bunting; three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Spain, Mrs. Clarence Johnson, and Mrs. Elmer Lee Goodson Sr. of Poquoson; three sons, Edd Bunting and John Wesley Bunting of Poquoson and J. Frank Bunting of Seaford; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Claytor Rollins Funeral Home is in charge.
Bunting, 93, Recalls 'Old Days'
By Robert Graves
Daily Press Staff Reporter
POQUOSON--Joseph F. Bunting Sr. of Poquoson recalls the old days on the Peninsula when he went to work, not by car pool on smooth paved roads, but by boat.
"After that, I drove to work in an open model-T Ford," he said.
"I didn't miss a minute's work in all the time I worked for the C & O Railway...I couldn't afford any broken time in my pay.
"It was a lot of hard work, but it was a pleasure for me to work and earn enough money to meet the family expenses."
Bunting worked for the railway in the repair shops in Newport News for 25 years. Before that, he was a waterman, earning his living by what he could take from the sea.
Elderly now--he will quietly observe his 93rd birthday with a small family event highlighted by ice cream and cake--he remembers when he negotiated the rutted, muddy roads from Newport News to Messick (now Poquoson) in his model-T and not always making it home.
"One time, from Christmas to March when everything was icy and frozen, I had to leave the car until the roads became better," Bunting said. "I would leave a sign: 'My car is in here, be careful.' Those were the days when you could safely leave your car."
It was a model-T, purchased in 1920 from a man who worked for the Newport News Record, a newspaper later merged with the Daily Press.
Since he was driving, he felt the need for a road to his house, so he constructed Buntings Lane with the help of his children.
"It took 100 loads of material, but I made the lane the best road in Poquoson," he said.
He later graduated to a model-A Ford and one of his daughters, Mrs. C.B. Johnson, says she remembers learning to drive it when she was 13.
Before he became motorized, Bunting kept his boat in the Newport News boat harbor and lived on it during the week while working with the railway. On weekends, he would take the boat home to be with his family.
"There have been wonderful changes since 1920," commented Bunting.
"The younger generation would not believe it."
There were stores in the area now known as Poquoson, but they were harder to get to and many people walked to them.
"You went a long ways then after a jar of molasses," Mrs. Johnson explained.
Bunting said he bought sugar for four cents a pound and raised 700 to 800 pounds of meat a year.
"I had plenty of vegetables in the garden and I would prepare a keg of salted fish to eat during the winter," he said.
Schools in those days were different from the educational plants now in Poquoson.
"I went to a two-room school house and our teacher probably had about one year in college."
Bunting proudly wears the badge which proclaims him the oldest member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows in the U.S.A.
"I am the only man in the U.S. who can legally wear it," he said, adding that it was given to him by the State Grand Marshal.
He has been a member of the Poquoson Chapter 100F for 70 years.
He is also proud that he has been a member of the Red Men for 50 years, the Junior Order United Mechanics for 50 years and the Degree of Pocahontas for 44 years.
He said his three daughters each spend time with him and Mrs. Bunting, helping to care for them.
"The Bible says, 'Cast your bread upon the waters,'" Bunting said.
"Now, I am reaping my reward.
"I am satisfied with my life."
Below is Mr. Bunting's obituary from "The Daily Press" of Newport News, VA:
Joseph Bunting
POQUOSON--Joseph Frank Bunting Sr., 95, 51 Bunting Lane, Poquoson, a retired employee of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co., died Thursday at home.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Poquoson; its Men's Bible Class; York Lodge 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Yorktown Council 66, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Red Cloud Tribe 58, Improved Order of Red Men, and Quindie Roe Council 42, Degree of Pocahontas
He had belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge 75 years and was believed to be the oldest member of the order in the United States.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Georgia S. Bunting; three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Spain, Mrs. Clarence Johnson, and Mrs. Elmer Lee Goodson Sr. of Poquoson; three sons, Edd Bunting and John Wesley Bunting of Poquoson and J. Frank Bunting of Seaford; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Claytor Rollins Funeral Home is in charge.
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