Phil Gunter, Phd

Phil Gunter, PhD., 60, of Hahira, died on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at his home. Born on July 25, 1951, in McMinnville, Tennessee he was the son of Norma Phillips Gunter and the late Howard Gunter. A graduate of DeKalb County High School in Smithville, Tennessee he continued his education at Tennessee Technological University where he received his BS and Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education. He received his EdS in Special Education at West Georgia University and his PhD in Special Education at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Gunter served as a classroom teacher of students with disabilities, a school principal, a director of special education services and a research scientist at the Kansas University. He was a noted scholar in the field of special education and emotional behavioral disorders. In 1993 he was Chair, Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders and from 2003 - 2009 was Dean, Dewar College of Education. In December of 2010 Dr. Gunter served as Provost, Valdosta State University and Vice President of Academic Affairs. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. Dr. Gunter loved music, the beach, hiking the Grand Canyon and all Valdosta State University Athletics and the Peachstate Summer Theatre.
Survivors are his wife, Karen of Hahira; his mother, Norma of Smithville, Tennessee; a sister and brother in law, Sharon and Harold Rader of Murphreesboro, Tennessee, brother and sister in law, Dan and Kristen Gunter of Lakeland, Florida; nieces and nephews, Danielle Gunter, Matt Gunter, Leah Orsbon, Monica Dickens, Alex Rader, Matthew Barnes and Rob Denny, god son; aunts and uncles, Mary Cantrell, Faye Walker, Jane Eller, Bill Phillips; his father in law and mother in law, Aaron and Josephine Parten, and sister in law, Eleanor Parten.
Memorial services for Dr. Gunter will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church with Reverend Peter Ingeman, Reverend Tar Drazdowski, and Dr. Louis Levy officiating. The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis Ministers for Animals c/o Christ Episcopal Church, 1521 N. Patterson St. Valdosta GA 31601, the Bethel Cemetery Fund c/o Joe Underwood, Short Mt. Road, Smithville, TN 37166 or the VSU Foundation, 1500 N. Patterson St. Valdosta GA 31698. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602