Obituary of Arlie Lawayne Gunter

Retired Colonel, Arlie Lawayne Gunter, age 91 of Foley and formerly of Grove Oak and Geraldine, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023. Funeral Services, with military honors, will be held at 10am on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church with burial to follow in the adjoining cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5pm-8pm on Monday, July 24, 2023 at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel. Officiating is Bro. Welton Brooks. Arlie LaWayne Gunter, aged 91, departed this life July 20th, 2023, at his home in Foley, Alabama, surrounded by his family. He was born to Charles Fred Gunter and Foy Lorine Marbut on the 12th of May 1932, in Grove Oak, Alabama, less than a mile from Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where he will be buried. Arlie’s paternal grandparents were Louis Farabee Gunter and Missouri Ann Stapp. His maternal grandparents were James Madison Marbut and Rosalie Steward. Arlie’s early years were spent in Geraldine, Alabama. He graduated from Geraldine High School and went on to attend Jacksonville State University where he was in the ROTC program and was elected student body president. He graduated with a degree in Psychology. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Army. Arlie met his wife Betty Jean Sanders, in 1957 and they were married on May 24th, 1958, in Guntersville, Alabama. Arlie served in the United States Army for 30 years achieving the rank of Colonel. He attended ROTC at Jacksonville State then completed Ranger Training, going on to serve in Korea and Vietnam. His accolades included Commander of a Nike Hercules Air Defense Missle Battery and achieved the first perfect score during annual service practice; was in charge of accountability for all air defense nuclear weapons in the U.S. thru the Chief Missle and Nuclear Weapons Division at NORAD; served as commander of both the Washington D.C. and Denver Recruiting Commands overseeing 79 field offices; served as a Test Director for the Tri-Service Working Group (Army, Navy, Air Force) evaluating tactical and strategic systems within the DOD against foreign weapons systems; finally managing the entire Army Stealth programs and was the Test Director for the U.S. anti-stealth efforts. He is survived by his wife of 65 years and his four children: Teresa Burke, Jeff Gunter (Lisa), Kerry Gunter and Kent Gunter (Tish). Six grandchildren: Zachary Burke, Allison Burke, Clayton Gunter (Harley) Cole Gunter, Naomi Gunter and Taylor Harris. His 14 great grandchildren and his dear friend Gene Howe. Arlie was an avid Alabama Football fan. He loved genealogy and was a bargain hunter extraordinaire….just look in his closet! He had a passion for German Shepherd dogs and for horses, but only if they came with five gallons of BBQ sauce. He was the last surviving member of a family of 7 brothers and 2 sisters and will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Grove Oak, Alabama in Arlie’s name. Arrangements Entrusted to W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel