JoAnn Gunter

Funeral Services for JoAnn Gunter, 86, will be held 12 noon Thursday, April 2, 2026 at Bush River Funeral Home. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. Entombment will follow in Bush River Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Mrs. Gunter passed away March 28, 2026. Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Eldon Grant and Eloise Kelly Grant. She was a graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School and attended Columbia College. She met her husband, Donnie, at Olympia High School, and reunited years later. They both owned and operated the Irmo Ace Hardware Store in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following that, they moved to surfside where Mrs. JoAnn started and ran Surfside Daycare before retiring.

She enjoyed her time at the beach, and when they moved to Gilbert, she turned her attention to her garden and yard, often times caring for her azaleas. JoAnn was fond of watching hummingbirds fly around with their beauty. She also enjoyed sewing, whether it was a patch on a jacket or a dress, she did it with love. Most importantly, Mrs. JoAnn was a loving and supportive wife and mother to her family and she will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Donnie Gunter; children, Wallace S. "Skip" Towe, III, Kevin Towe (Virginia), Melissa "Missy" Ray (Mark), Janice Jennings (Bill), and Tammy Kendall; 9 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and brother, Gary Grant (Kathy).

She was predeceased by a son, Mark Gunter; and a sister, Janice Harkey.