Peter Hamilton Bunce ’51

Portrait
Image
Body

Peter was born Nov. 7, 1929, in Palmerton, Pa., to E.H. and Elizabeth Wooster Bunce.

He prepared at The Hill School. At Princeton he majored in economics, was a member of Tower Club and Triangle, and was on the Tiger editorial staff. He roomed with Bob Cohill, Frederic Ingram, and Bob Ix.

In 1951 he joined the Air Force and spent three years as a combat intelligence officer, after which he settled in St. Louis at the suggestion of his friend and classmate Jeff Arrick. Peter and Gail Goessling were married in 1954. He founded the Bunce Corp. and was for years involved in civic activities, including the Repertory Theatre, Grace Hill Settlement House, Grand Center, Jazz at the Bistro, Circus Flora, and board president of Monmouth College in Illinois.

Peter died April 13, 2017. He is survived by Gail; their children, Cristen Barnes and Mark Bunce; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his twin sister, Peggy Munro. His sister Barbara McGill predeceased him.

Memorial contributions to either Grace Hill Settlement House, 2600 Hadley St., St. Louis MO 63106 or to Circus Flora Inc., 3547 Olive St. St. Louis MO 63103 would be appreciated.

No responses yet

Join the conversation

Plain text

Full name and Princeton affiliation (if applicable) are required for all published comments. For more information, view our commenting policy. Responses are limited to 500 words for online and 250 words for print consideration.

Paw in print

Image
PAW’s December 2025 cover, with a photo of Michael Park ’98.
The Latest Issue

December 2025

Judge Michael Park ’98; shifts in DEI initiatives; a night at the new art museum.