Obituary for Rolfe James Buntaine
Sadly, Rolfe James Buntaine, beloved by his family and friends, passed away unexpectedly on May 19, 2022, at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born in Chicago on January 8, 1946, grew up in Wheaton, IL and Kirkwood, MO, and then attended and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University. After working in Kansas City, Iowa, and Indiana (including a stint as a high school shop teacher), he settled into his career as Area Manager/Owner of Herff-Jones in Arkansas, where his success in business earned him an induction into the company’s $10 million club and Hall of Fame in 2011. Over the years, his Herff-Jones coworkers and clients became lifelong friends.
He was married for 25 years to the former Margaret (Maggie) Elmore of Wellington, Kansas. Although their marriage was eventually dissolved, they maintained a close and loving relationship for the rest of their lives. Together, they started the much beloved Conway cookie company — Maggie’s Original Cookie Company— that Maggie owned and operated for many years and is now owned by their son, Michael. While living in Conway, Rolfe invested in the real estate market and formed strong community ties as well as many lasting friendships. Later, after moving to Little Rock, he continued his entrepreneurial pursuits in commercial real estate and other investments.
Rolfe enjoyed travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Amsterdam, Florida, Las Vegas, and Southern California among his favorites. He will be remembered as smart, gregarious, fun, thoughtful, and kind. He was well-known for quietly helping when needed, without drawing attention to himself. As Jessie Brown, one of his nieces said, “He had one of the kindest hearts I have ever encountered.” He will be sorely missed by his son Michael and partner Todd Goodrich of Edgewater, New Jersey, by his brothers and sisters, Bob, Norman, Donna, Croyle, Marc, and Marreen, by his numerous nieces and nephews, and by his close personal friends he loved “like family.” He was predeceased by Maggie and his parents, Robert and Marreen (Ward) Buntaine.
A Celebration of Rolfe’s Life will be scheduled at a later date and will be announced on social media, including on Rolfe’s Facebook page. If you wish to be personally notified, please send your request to: dbunbrewer@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Our House shelter in Little Rock at ourhouseshelter.org
Services entrusted to Larry G. Acklin Funeral Home, 8821 Colonel Glenn, Little Rock, AR. "IN YOUR TIME OF NEED...WE CARE."
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