Richard F. "Bunky" Jones, a Carson City resident for the past 15 years, died May 17, 2004, from complications of prostate cancer. He was born Jan. 12, 1925, in Montana.
By the time he left high school, he had become an accomplished bass and tuba player.
Immediately after graduation, Mr. Jones joined the Horace Henderson band and began his long career in music. Among other bands he played with were Red Ingles, Vido Musso, Jan Garber, Herb Miller (Glen Miller's brother) and a long stint with Harry James. During his time with Harry James, the band played a concert at Carnegie Hall and traveled to England to play for the troops following World War II. He was afraid to put his precious bass fiddle in the cargo hold of airplanes, he bought an extra ticket so the bass could ride alongside him, buckled in place with the seat belt.
For the past 15 years, he taught bass and tuba to aspiring young musicians and played with many local bands. He also had a long engagement at the Stope in Virginia City.
Among his survivors is his daughter Pam Sanders of Irvine, Calif.
No service will be held.
Cremation will be at FitzHenry's Funeral Home.