Mrs. Esther Lowder Bunting, age 94, of 419 Edgemont Street, Albemarle, NC, passed away on Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at Stanly Manor Nursing Center in Albemarle, NC.  Her family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6 PM to 8 PM at Stanly Funeral Home and her funeral will be at 3 PM on Friday, April 1st, 2011 at Albemarle Wesleyan Church in Albemarle, NC.  Rev. David Rollins and Rev. Gary Waisner will officiate and burial will be in Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Born April 2nd, 1916 in Stanly County, NC, Mrs. Bunting was the daughter of the late John F. and Queenie Smith Lowder and was a graduate of New London High School.  She was also a retired employee of Wiscassett Mills Company and a member of Albemarle Wesleyan Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul N. Bunting; two brothers, James D. Lowder and Clarence R. Lowder; and one sister, Ada Estelle Lowder.  She is survived by one son, Jerrell Douglas Bunting and wife Claudia Hall Bunting; one brother, John F. Lowder, Jr. of Yonkers, NY; two sisters, Cecil Lowder Almond of New London, NC and Ailene Lowder Brooks of Richfield, NC; two grandchildren, Dr. Kevin D. Bunting and wife Dr. Sylvia Bunting of Atlanta, GA and Jeffrey P. Bunting of Mint Hill, NC; and one great-grandchild, Cynthia Bunting.