Bunch, C. (Charles) Pardue, 1913-1985

C. Pardue Bunch, M.D. C. (Charles) Pardue Bunch (1913-1985) was born May 4, 1913 in Statesville, North Carolina. Although he spent most of his formative years in Statesville, Dr. Bunch lived with relatives a few years in New Mexico for health reasons. He graduated from Carlsbad (New Mexico) High School in 1929. That year he was sixteen, president of his senior class, and the winner of the Governor's Cup for an essay he wrote on highway safety, although he had never driven a car.

Dr. Bunch received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1934 and that same year was a delegate to the first American-Japanese Student Conference in Tokyo. In 1935-36, he was headquarters secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement in New York. He received his M.D. degree from Duke Medical School in 1939. In 1941, Dr. Bunch started graduate school in Chinese Studies at the University of California, Berkeley in preparation for becoming a medical missionary. However, his health and World War II intervened and instead he started a general practice at Sturgill, North Carolina. Dr. Bunch moved his practice to Artesia, New Mexico in 1944.

A man of many interests, Dr. Bunch published articles in medical and scientific journals and wrote a chapter, "Is All Healing Based on Faith?" for a book titled "Faith Healing." He was an active participant in local, state, and national organizations. Dr. Bunch was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He was an active member of the New Mexico Medical Society, holding various committee positions and serving as president in1963-64. Dr. Bunch was president of the Eddy County Medical Society, 1951-1952, and an associate clinical professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice. From 1952-1958, Dr. Bunch was a member of the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners.

In 1984, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians nominated Dr. Bunch for the "Family Doctor of the Year." Letters of support for this nomination came from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, patients, colleagues, educators, and his church. Dr. Bunch was named one of the ten finalists for the award.

Dr. Bunch married Marjorie King in 1936 and they had four children. He retired in 1984 after forty years as a family practitioner in Artesia. Dr. Bunch died November 3, 1985.

From the guide to the C. Pardue Bunch Papers, 1913-1985, (New Mexico Health Historical Collection, UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center.)

C. Pardue Bunch, M.D.

Charles Pardue Bunch was born May 4, 1913 in Statesville, North Carolina. Although he spent most of his formative years in Statesville, Dr. Bunch lived with relatives a few years in New Mexico for health reasons. He graduated from Carlsbad (New Mexico) High School in 1929. That year he was sixteen, president of his senior class, and the winner of the Governor's Cup for an essay he wrote on highway safety, although he had never driven a car.

Dr. Bunch received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1934 and that same year was a delegate to the first American-Japanese Student Conference in Tokyo. In 1935-36, he was headquarters secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement in New York. He received his M.D. degree from Duke Medical School in 1939. In 1941, Dr. Bunch started graduate school in Chinese Studies at the University of California, Berkeley in preparation for becoming a medical missionary. However, his health and World War II intervened and instead he started a general practice at Sturgill, North Carolina. Dr. Bunch moved his practice to Artesia, New Mexico in 1944.

A man of many interests, Dr. Bunch published articles in medical and scientific journals and wrote a chapter, "Is All Healing Based on Faith?" for a book titled "Faith Healing." He was an active participant in local, state, and national organizations. Dr. Bunch was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He was an active member of the New Mexico Medical Society, holding various committee positions and serving as president in1963-64. Dr. Bunch was president of the Eddy County Medical Society, 1951-1952, and an associate clinical professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice. From 1952-1958, Dr. Bunch was a member of the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners.

In 1984, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians nominated Dr. Bunch for the "Family Doctor of the Year." Letters of support for this nomination came from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, patients, colleagues, educators, and his church. Dr. Bunch was named one of the ten finalists for the award.

Dr. Bunch married Marjorie King in 1936 and they had four children. He retired in 1984 after forty years as a family practitioner in Artesia. Dr. Bunch died November 3, 1985.

From the guide to the C. Pardue Bunch Oral History, 1984, (New Mexico Health Historical Collection, UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center.)