John Burrows Gunter, 100, Vero Beach
Longtime St. Louis resident John Burrows Gunter, 100, died peacefully at home in Vero Beach, his loving daughter and devoted caregivers at his side.
Born in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 25, 1917.
The youngest of four brothers, he spent his early years in New Orleans, his school years at St. Louis Country Day School. He graduated from Williams College, BA.
While there, he met his wife of 56 years, Jane Storer O’Brien (1919-1996) of New Bedford, Mass.
After college, he joined the Navy and became a dive bomber pilot aboard the USS Lexington in the South Pacific. For his service he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
He had a successful career in advertising in St. Louis. Mr. Gunter began to spend winters in Vero Beach in the 1990s, and moved here year-round 10 years ago.
He was active in the Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Vero Beach Yacht Club.
He was a devoted and loving father and husband who had friends of all ages. He was much appreciated for his perennial good nature, sense of humor, his singing and his witty rewriting of lyrics. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his son, Jonathan, of Oak View, Calif.; his daughter, Lucinda Gunter Martin, of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral and burial arrangements to be determined, pending application at Arlington National Cemetery.
