Rev. Frederick W. Gunti, STD
Deceased: 2009-01-29
Diocese: LITTLE ROCK
Seminary Graduation Year: 1965
The Rev. Frederick Walter Gunti, S.T.D., of Mobile, Alabama went to join his Lord and Savior on January 29, 2009 at Providence Hospital in Mobile. Fr. Gunti was born July 13, 1940 in Memphis, Tennessee, he was a son of the late Frederick Walter and Mattie Maude Lovelady Gunti. He was preceded in death by his dear brother David Kearney Gunti. He received his elementary education at the Annunciation Academy at St. Joseph Parish in Pine Bluff, Arkansas through the ninth grade, and St. John’s Seminary, Little Rock, Arkansas for seven years to complete his high school and college education. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy for four years. He held a Bachelor of Arts from St. John Seminary, Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University. Fr. Gunti was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy on December 16, 1964. After assignments as Assistant Pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas and service on the faculty of Catholic High School in Little Rock, he entered Catholic University at Washington, D.C. and received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America at Washington, D.C. He then served on the faculty of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana and in 1975 joined the faculty of the Theology Department of Spring Hill College in Mobile where he lovingly served until his death. As part of his loving service to the people of God, Fred would return to St. Joseph Parish in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for four weeks each summer to serve as the substitute pastor, bringing comfort and the sacraments to all those who were in need. Only the Lord knows how many lives Fred Gunti has touched with his humor, wit, wisdom, love and caring for the people of God. One need only read and contemplate the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12 to understand the life that Fred Gunti lived! His survivors include his sister-in-law, Marie Hurst Gunti; his much loved nieces, Susan Gunti McGeorge, M.D., (Brian McGeorge)and Ann Ellen Gunti of Fayetteville, Arkansas; much loved and enjoyed great- nephews, Miles Wallace McGeorge, and Morgan David McGeorge of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; cousins Noel F. “Bud” Bryant, Bill Bryant, Roy T. “Bubba” Bryant, all of Pine Bluff, Mary Bryant-Undeutsch of Leeds, Alabama, John Bryant of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Mary Bryant Cavin of Little Rock, Arkansas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Chapel, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama at 4 P.M., Tuesday, February 3, 2009. A memorial Mass for Fr. Frederick W. Gunti will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas at 5:30 P.M. on February 11, 2009. Funeral arrangements are by Ascension Funeral Service of Mobile. Memorials may be made to The Rev. Frederick W. Gunti Scholarship Memorial Fund, Spring Hill College, 4000 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36608 or to St. Joseph Catholic Church, P. O. Box 7434, Pine Bluff, AR 71611-7434.
