Former Dalton resident killed in Gilmer County wreck

Published 10:32 am Wednesday, February 21, 2018

DALTON, Ga. — A former U.S. Army helicopter pilot who had previously lived in Dalton died early Monday morning from injuries from a one-vehicle wreck late Sunday night as he was returning to his home in Gilmer County from Texas, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

Arthur William “Bunky” Lindsey Jr., 78, of Ellijay, was driving east on State Route 136 when his vehicle left the road, struck a tree and burst into flames.

“He was going through a curve and traveled off the road for an unknown reason,” Trooper 1st Class Josh Hedden said. “His family said he was driving home from Texas but I wouldn’t want to speculate on anything that might have caused the wreck.”

According to his obituary, Lindsey was a graduate of North Whitfield High School in 1957 and served in the Army as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, and was an instructor at Fort Rucker in Alabama.

The call reporting the crash was made to the Gilmer County 911 center at 11:17 Sunday night. Hedden said the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and Gilmer County Fire Department responded to the wreck, which occurred two miles east of the Gordon County line.

The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. at West Hill Cemetery. American Legion Post 112 will be in charge of the graveside rites.