Valiston "Val" Gunter, Jr., 74, of Columbia, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Prisma Health Richland Hospital after a brief illness. Born on June 12, 1950, he was a son of the late Valiston Gunter, Sr., and the late Annis Emily Keisler Gunter.

A graduate of Olympia High School and Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, Val worked at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for over 40 years. Val was a loving son, brother, and uncle. He loved Gamecock sports, annual family reunion beach vacations for 50 years, and was a music aficionado with a record collection second to none. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his brother, Larry Gene Gunter; sisters Kay Geneva Gunter Hollis (John) and Emily Josephine "Jo" Gunter Daniels; ten nieces and nephews; and 23 great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Valiston Gunter, Sr.; mother, Annis E. Gunter; and two sisters, Patricia Ann Gunter Fegler, and Nancy Lee Gunter Cherry.

A visitation will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 4 o'clock until 6 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC, 29223, for family and friends to gather. Burial will be held at Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens, 2603 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC, 29204, at a later date.

Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.