Howard Russell Bunting
Agency patch
Investigator

Howard Russell Bunting

Accident
End of Watch February 23, 1957
Age 38
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 92 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Howard Bunting and Investigator John Fletcher were killed in an automobile accident while on duty in White County. Investigator Fletcher and Investigator Bunting were traveling northbound on Illinois Route 1 heading to a district meeting. As a driver who was traveling southbound attempted to slow his vehicle, the brakes grabbed, causing his vehicle to strike the side of the officer's vehicle. Investigator Fletcher and the other driver were killed instantly and Investigator Bunting died as a result of his injuries six days later. Investigator Bunting had served with the Illinois Department of Conservation for four years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-343ADE48
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Howard. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Bunting gave the Illinois Department of Conservation 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Bunting.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Springfield, IL
Platform Identity idcdlecons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 23, 1957
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Investigator Howard Russell Bunting is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, 10 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 76.9% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement
10
of 13 officers
76.9% Accident
IL — Statewide
354
of 1,318 officers
26.9% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard Russell Bunting's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Howard Russell Bunting Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Howard Russell Bunting is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897