- January 18, 2026
Kathie Meyer Bunch, 76, passed away peacefully on Dec. 6, when she left the earth a better place than she found it.
Born Feb. 21, 1949, in Buffalo, N.Y., to the late Marie and Carl Meyer, she was the eldest of eight children. Kathie met her late husband, Judge Thomas Bunch, at the University of Dayton, and the two married in 1971.
Settling into the Ohio countryside, Kathie found the perfect setting to pursue an inherent calling to create and bring beauty to everything around her. Using their land on Cattail Road, she cultivated her own piece of garden paradise, which became the canvas for Bunches Herbs and Gifts in downtown Chillicothe.
Together they raised three children, prioritizing family, academics, and character. She devoted herself to imparting the values of hard work, respect, and perseverance. She pushed them to take chances, have compassion, find purpose, and forge their own path.
Following her husband’s passing in 2015, Kathie retired to Ormond-by-the-Sea, Fla., and became deeply engaged with her community. She volunteered with the Volusia County Turtle Patrol, led efforts to restore beach access after Hurricane Matthew, revived and led a neighborhood association, and revitalized a local park along the Intracoastal Waterway.
She lived out her later years freely pursuing her passions of gardening, cooking, traveling, painting, and visiting and hosting her close-knit family – where the laughter never stopped and life was really – truly – lived. Her legacy of love, laughter and life lives on.
Kathie is survived by her three children – Jonathon (Mary), Ryan (Jennifer), and Brooke Marie – five grandchildren and seven siblings. She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and parents, Marie and Carl Meyer.
The family will hold a private celebration of life at her Florida home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Judge Thomas and Kathie Bunch Memorial Fund, which supports the causes closest to their hearts. Contributions can be made through the Chillicothe‑Ross Community Foundation at crcf.net.
