John Halliday Bunker Sr. died on Dec. 9. He was 77 and just shy of his 78th birthday.

He was affectionately known to most as JB. He was born and raised on the Island, where hunting and fishing became some of his favorite hobbies. He attended the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and graduated in 1964. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country in Germany during the Vietnam War until 1967.

He returned to the Island and spent time swordfishing with Turtle Lawry. He became a Chilmark police officer, a member of the fire department and owned and operated Know’s Soot Chimney Sweep. In his later years he enjoyed custodial work at high school and also became a school bus driver.

JB is survived by his son Rodney Bunker, his wife Pamela of Chilmark and their daughters, Samantha and Emma; his son John Bunker Jr., his wife Lynlee Gale and their son Sebastian of West Tisbury; John Jr.’s daughter Halley Bunker of Raynham and her young daughter, Lana; and his son in law Kenny Ponte and his children, Hunter, Shelby and Jake of Oak Bluffs.

He was predeceased by his daughter Erica Bunker-Ponte in 2019; his wife Leslie Malcouronne in 2016; and his first wife, Suzanne Fischer, in 2020.

Services will be held at date to be announced.

For online condolences and more information, please visit chapmanfuneral.com.