Mr. Herbert L. Bundens

August 29, 1924 - December 15, 2014

Herbert L. Bundens passed away on Monday, December 15, four months after celebrating his 90th birthday with family and friends. Born and raised in Paulsboro, Herb graduated from Paulsboro High School in 1941 and worked in the Getz Home Supply furniture store until he was old enough to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Huff (PHS Class of 1944), in 1945 and raised two children (Debbie and Herb Jr.) during their 67year marriage, until he lost the love of his life in February 2013. Herb saw combat while aboard the USS Flaherty (DE135), a destroyer escort built during WWII to provide protection for Navy vessels and convoys against submarines and air attacks in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship made 3 voyages between the US and Casablanca before joining the hunterkiller group serving the USS Guadalcanal. While serving as a radarman aboard the Flaherty in June 1944, he received the Presidential Unit Citation for his part in the capture of the German submarine U505, the only enemy vessel captured on the high seas during wartime since the War of 1812. The capture of this Uboat led to the decoding of essential intelligence, assisting in future antisubmarine warfare. Sworn to secrecy, Herb never spoke about his part in that dramatic operation until the event was recorded as a historical documentary produced for television some five decades later. He returned home to Paulsboro after the war and resumed working at Getz's, eventually managing their stores in Paulsboro and Pitman. After purchasing property in Gibbstown, he employed his brother's contracting firm in 1956 to build the home where he would happily spend the rest of his life. Herb began a new career with DuPont Repauno Works in 1961 in order to spend more time with his family. He was active in the DuPont Club and joined a small group of men who founded the Gibbstown Pool, which still plays an important role in Gibbstown's community. Retiring as an engineer from DuPont Wilmington in 1983, Herb spent many years traveling with his wife Doris, cruising the Caribbean islands and sailing aboard the QE2 to Bermuda. They toured Europe and spent a month visiting their son and daughter in law in Hong Kong, with side trips to Japan and China, where they climbed the Great Wall and visited Beijing and other cities shortly after they were opened to tourists in the early 80s. And, like many locals, they enjoyed numerous trips to Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore. They also were pleased to meet Presidents Reagan and Bush (41) during their daughter's tenure in the White House, and attended a staff Christmas party, a Presidential helicopter departure from the South Lawn, and were guests in the Presidential Box for a performance of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Herbert is survived by his son Herbert Jr. and daughter in law Linda of Mooresville, NC; daughter Deborah Bundens Scott of Kent Island, MD; brothers Allan of Mantua and Gerald of Gibbstown; and sister Harriet Young of Sewell. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday December 27, 2014 in St. Paul’s U.M. Church, 2 East Broad St., Paulsboro. Relatives and Friends may visit with the family after 10 AM in church until service time. Inurnment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro Arrangements by McBride – Foley Funeral Home, Paulsboro. Contributions to charity are requested in lieu of flowers. Memories can be shared at www.mcbridefoleyfh.com.