Stephen Hill Unger, 71, of Dunbar, passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2011 in Thomas Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness.

He was born on July 11, 1939 in Charleston, the son of the late William M., Sr., and Elizabeth Unger. He was also preceded in death by his first wife Stephany Unger, mother of his daughter Laura; brother, Danny Unger; uncle, John Marino; aunt, Janice Marino; grandparents, Harry E. Unger and Mary Ralston.

Steve was a Christian and attended First Baptist Church in Dunbar. He graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1959 where he played football & ran track and a graduate of West Virginia State College where he was a member of ROTC and participated in pole vaulting and track. Steve worked and operated the family-owned business, The Auto Paint Supply, for many years. He retired as a Captain from the Charles Fire Department with 20 years of service.

Steve was an avid hunter who hunted all his life. His favorite hunts were the Elk Hunting trips to New Mexico with his friends Mike McComas and Doug McComas and his Colorado Elk Hunting trip with Mike. Steve had been looking forward to getting a new knee next month and returning to New Mexico and Colorado next fall. He jokingly said that his new knee was guaranteed for 30 years.

Steve also loved to fish and went on many fishing trips to Canada with his old high school buddies, Lee Pierce, Bill Kuehnhold, Ward Eister, and Clark Green.

Steve was a wonderful husband, father, friend to all, a good handyman and was always fixing things for his family, friends and neighbors. If it was broke, he would fix it somehow or someway.

He was a member of the National Rifle Association, The Elk River Muskie Club and Local 317 IAFF.

Mr. Unger is survived by his loving wife, Mary K. Unger; daughter, Laura (Mark) Turley of St. Albans; son, William Strader of Memphis, TN; stepdaughter, Lisa Tucker of Dunbar; brother, William Mitchell, Jr. (Roberta) of Patterson Creek, WV; sister-in-law, Renie Unger of Allentown, PA; cousin Mary Jan (Pete) Lares; grandchildren, Brandy Potter, Brittney Adkins, Richie Adkins, all of St. Albans, Sarah Pickering of South Charleston; great-grandchildren, Andrew Potter, Kaitlyn Pulliam, Natalie Potter of St. Albans, Gideon Pickering of South Charleston; nieces and nephews, Terri Strack of Ipswich MA, Dan Unger of Allentown, PA, Jeff Unger of Poland, and Mitchell Unger of Patterson Creek WV. Steve's cats Buttercup and Daisy May who will miss him playing with them everyday.

Steve's family would like to thank the staff at Thomas Memorial Hospital for their wonderful, steadfast care, especially Dr. Holfeldt, Dr. Harper, the ICU Nurse Stephanie, and His Nurse Seth on 3rd floor.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, February 3, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Douglas McComas officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

Friends may call two hours prior to the service at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

In lieu of flower, donation could be made in Steve's memory to:
Independent Baptist Mission for Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.