Athens, Alabama - Claire Etheridge Bumgardner, age 99, of Athens, Alabama, passed away at her residence on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born in Earle, Arkansas on August 28, 1926, to Leonard Etheridge and Era Neal Etheridge.

She is survived by her son, Dr. David Paul Bumgardner (Kerry); daughter, Bonnie Claire White (Harrison); grandchildren, Shelley Hollan, Lisa Comfort (Josh), Stewart White (Candace), Satya Lee, Christopher Bumgardner (Maureen), Joshua Bumgardner (Tanara), and Sara Slagel (Nick); 9 great-grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, James "Paul" Bumgardner; her parents; and siblings, Evelyn Garris (Marvin), Leon Etheridge (Roberta), Col. Wade Etheridge MD (Anne Marie) and Dimple Clark (Jewel).

A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 1 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with the funeral service beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with Joe Teal and Neal Johnson officiating. Internment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chirstopher Bumgardner, Joshua Bumgardner, William Morton, Richard Morton, Joshua Sharit, Ben Morton, and Jacob Epperson.

Mrs. Bumgardner loved flowers and gardening and was a longtime member of The Glen Augur Garden Club. With a passion for the Lord, she worshipped and served at First Baptist of Athens since 1958. She was also an avid reader and spent as much time as she could immersed in a good book. Many will remember her from her working at the U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, for over 20 years. The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Hospice of Limestone County.