Thomas Holland Gunter, Jr. passed peacefully in his sleep on June 24, 2023, at his home.

Tom is survived by his son, Holland Gunter; parents, Jeanne and Tom Gunter of Raleigh; and his brother, David (Judy) of Wilson.

Tom graduated from Sanderson Hight School in 1983 and for many years was self-employed as a residential repairman and remodeler. Tom was a skilled handyman; he could fix anything! He was strong and tough. Tom liked to cook and grill. He enjoyed watching old cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Roadrunner, and Looney Tunes.

Tom liked to live life by his own terms. He was not afraid to speak his mind. As a very independent and do-it-yourselfer, he did not like asking for help. He did like hanging out with his friends and listening to rock ’n roll music. He could surprise you with humor or a joke to make you laugh, even though he was mostly serious.

Tom was always there for his son, Holland. They enjoyed doing a variety of things together such as going to the flea market, used book and record stores, the beach, the State Fair, etc. On occasion, they also enjoyed playing video games together.

When Tom was young, he enjoyed go-karting on his granddaddy’s farm, flying kites, and fishing. When he was 9 years old, he rode his bike across town (Tarboro, NC) on impulse to take a neighbor’s cat to the vet. No one knew where he was but the vet contacted the neighbor to let them know what was going on. Tom saw a need and filled it. As a youth, he also played baseball and held a pool record at age 11 for the backstroke.

Deep down, Tom knew that others cared for him deeply.

Donations can be made in Tom’s memory to Samaritan's Purse or Transitions LifeCare.

A Funeral Service will take place at Renaissance Funeral Home on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 12:00pm with a Visitation one hour prior. Tom will be laid to rest immediately following the services at Raleigh Memorial Park.