Barbara Gunderson

Barbara Marian Gunderson (nee Davis), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Wesley & Katherine Davis in 1923, passed away into the hands of her loving Lord on January 6, 2016. She was preceded in death by her best friend and husband for 66 years, Charles K. (Bud) Gunderson. Barbara's family moved to New Mexico in the 1930's. She graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1940, then attended college at University of New Mexico, where she met Bud. While at UNM, Barbara was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Barbara and Bud were married in 1944, just before he was inducted into the Navy. After his service overseas, Barbara and Bud settled in Grants, NM where he entered the family mercantile, oil and gas, and real estate business with his father, Carroll Gunderson and later his brother, Ray. Barbara preferred to be a homemaker and pursued artistic goals including hand-crafts, music and painting. Barbara played golf earlier in her life and was an avid bridge-player until her death. She was also a licensed pilot along with Bud and enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. in their private plane, as well as commercial flights overseas. Barbara was a member and past State President of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In 2012, she moved into an assisted living facility in Albuquerque where she enjoyed water-color painting as well as other activities there.
Barbara is survived by her brother William W. Davis of California; niece, Cheryl and husband, Ronny Pynes of Grants, NM; niece, Marianne and husband, Charles Cooper of Tonto Verde, AZ; sister-in-law Connie Hale of Albuquerque, NM; niece Nancy Steele of California; niece Barbie and husband Donnie Coleclasure of California; nephews Doug and Scott Davis of California; 8 grandnephews and grandnieces; 2 great-nephews and a great-niece. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions in memory of Barbara M. Gunderson can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Grants, P. O. Box 396, Grants, NM 87020. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, 11:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Grants. Interment of the cremated remains will follow at the Grants Cemetery.