Bartunek, Robert David

Robert David Bartunek, 73, died Sunday, April 15, 2012, in Naples, Fla., of cancer.

“Bart” was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 23, 1938, to Vincent and Blanche (Kubalek) Bartunek. He grew up in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, graduating from Iowa City High School in 1956 and from the University of Iowa in 1960. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia. He flew C-130 air assault and flare “forward air controller” missions in Vietnam. In 1967, he was assigned to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., where he was instructor pilot and safety officer.

He married Jean Corry Woolington at Enid in 1969. In 1971 and 1972 he flew combat missions with the 5th Special Operations Wing out of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. He then served in various positions with the Pacific Air Forces Headquarters in Hawaii. He retired as a lieutenant colonel at Vance AFB in 1982.

After retirement, he worked as a pilot for DHL, Exec-Express, attained a degree in Geology from Phillips University in Enid and established the Robert Bartunek Winery on the land just north of Vance AFB which Jean's great-grandfather had staked in the 1893 Oklahoma land run. He was instrumental in increasing the wine industry in Oklahoma. Jean died in 2000, and he married Helen Stuart of Enid in 2002. They moved first to Wilmington, Del., then to Naples, Fla., where he kept his love of aviation alive by flying his 1947 Er Coupe and building an experimental aircraft. He was also an amateur radio operator for many years.

Surviving are his wife, Helen; son, Dan (Marie) Glenn, Boston, Mass.; daughter, Kari (Mark) Perlstein, Phoenix, Ariz.; stepsons, Corry (Beth) Woolington, Enid, and Mark (Tina) Woolington, The Woodlands, Texas; stepdaughters, Stacey Stuart (Scott) McCurdy, Naples, and Shelly Stuart, Norman, Okla.; five grandsons; six granddaughters; a sister, Helenka Claypool, Williamsburg; a brother, Vincent Bartunek, Englewood, Colo.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Aleta Smith, Spring, Texas.

Burial of cremains will be at Enid Cemetery at 1 p.m. Friday, May 4, with full military honors. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Enid.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.