Meet your neighbor, Vernon Bundy of Washington, IL, formerly of La Harpe.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Christy Kienast-The Quill
Meet your neighbor, Vernon Bundy of Washington, IL, formerly of La Harpe.
Vernon L. Bundy was born on September 18th, 1945 in La Harpe. He is the son of William (Willy) V. Bundy and Florence Lucille (Lucy) Bundy. Both of his parents are deceased.
Vernon has always considered Florence Stewart of La Harpe as his adopted mother. He loves her very much.
Vernon has four brothers, Charles who is deceased; Bill (Tee), Mike and Max all live in and around Chillicothe. He also has three aunts who live in La Harpe, Maycel Gebhardt, Francis Neff, and Teresa Bundy.
Vernon attended grade school in La Harpe up until 1959. He would have been in the class of 1963, but his family moved and he attended high school in Chillicothe where he received his GED in the US Army in 1964.
He attended Central College from 1971-1985 and received an AA in Police Science and Industrial Security. He also attended Sangamon State University at Peoria, completing one year toward a business management degree.
He has taken numerous professional development courses for the US Army and Caterpillar.
Vernon retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company on February 1, 2000, after 33 years as a Corporate Security Captain. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves on October 1, 2002, after approximately 27 years of service.
He served with the Illinois National Guard from January 1963 to October 1963.
He was in the active Army October 1963 to September 1966, the IRR Sept. 1966 to Dec. 1968, the USAR from Feb. 1982 until October 2002.
He was on active duty from September of 2001 right after 9-11 until September 2002.
Vernon married Barbara C. Bachman on May 19th,, 2000. Barbara retired from St. Francis Hospital In Peoria after working there for 29 years as a surgical clerk.
Between the two of them, they have five daughters, Vernon's three and Barbara's two. Their oldest two Stephanie and Yvonne live in Peoria. Vernon's middle daughter, Lindsay lives in Lombard, his youngest, Karrie lives in Alaska and Barbara's youngest Alecia, lives in Hawaii. They have 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Vernon feels that whatever he has accomplished in his life he owes to his Lord and his uncle Ralph E. Lund (Railroad Piken). He will never be able to help enough of those who need it to repay his uncle for what he did for him. Ralph passed away in 1968 and Vernon has missed him terribly ever since.
He believes his biggest achievement was serving his country and surviving his tour in Vietnam.
He remembers running into a grade school classmate, Robert Hubbard, at Hanna City Radar Base in 1965. Vernon had went there to get his final shots before he left.
One of Vernon's favorite vacation memories was when he went to Washington, DC and watched the changing of the guard at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Vernon remembers his uncle would walk him and his brother up town in La Harpe to the movies. He would wait for them at the Conoco station, which was ran by Jim Maynard. It cost a mere 25 cents to get into the movies at that time.
Vernon's goal in life is help somebody every day, even if it is just open the door for them.
Vernon's hobbies include collecting coins, info on the T.P.&W Railroad, and looking for items to donate to the Historical Society in La Harpe. He is a lifetime member and enjoys stopping at the museum when he and Barbara are in town.