Grace Flood

Grace Janette (Bunnell) Flood of Waynesville, North Carolina, passed away on June 23, 2021 at Haywood Regional Medical Center at the age of 96.

Grace was born in New Haven, Connecticut on March 1, 1925 to Grace E. (Tewksbury) and William A. Bunnell. She was the youngest of six children and was privileged to be part of a close-knit family in which kindness, learning, and a love of family, nature and music were encouraged.

Grace graduated from Connecticut State Teachers College in New Haven in 1947. She was married to David on June 26, 1948 in her family's apple orchard in Middlefield Connecticut and for over 72 years they were each other's support and joy.

David's work took the family from Connecticut to Mendham, New Jersey, where Grace taught kindergarten for many years, then to Clearwater, Florida where she continued her career as a first-grade teacher at Dunedin Day School.

As well as being an educator, Grace was a life-long learner. The family's home was filled with reference books of all types which were put to frequent use. She was a caring and supportive wife and mother and passed along her values to her children. There was always singing on the long car trips back to visit family and around the piano at home.

Grace and David always dreamed of living in the mountains of North Carolina and in 1989 they made this a reality by moving to Waynesville, to a home designed by David. There they found their new church family in Elizabeth Chapel Methodist Church and made many close friends, some while delivering the Mountaineer for many years.

What struck most people about Grace was her positive outlook. She woke up each day grateful for new opportunities and thankful for the natural beauty God had created. She always found reason for optimism and gratitude. Aptly named, Grace not only devoted her life to loving and supporting her family but shared love and encouragement with anyone she met. She will be missed.

Grace was recently preceded in death by her husband, David, and son, Bruce. She is survived by her daughters, Janette Terry of Waynesville and Cynthia Pearson (Chris) of Wilsonville, Oregon; her grandchildren, Meadow, Carson, Ian , Liam, Jessica and Natalie and her great grandchildren, Tori, Jacob and Carrah, as well as her beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial for Grace, David and Bruce is planned to be held at Elizabeth Chapel, the date to be announced at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church, General Fund, 98 Elizabeth Chapel Road, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Mrs. Flood has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.