Lynda Bunch of Wagram has been associated with the United Way organization for more than two decades. The executive director retired this week, citing a wish to become involved in other endeavors.

"It was just time for me to leave," Bunch said from her Wagram home. "It was time for someone new to step in, with fresh ideas and energy."

Bunch began working for the United Way in February, 1989 as executive secretary, the only paid employee at the Scotland County branch of the non-profit agency.

"A couple of years ago they realized I was doing the work of an executive director, so that's what I became," she said. "It was a title change only."

United Way of Scotland County President Jay Todd credited Bunch for her commitment to the organization.

"Lynda has been working with the United Way for about 20 years, and it's been a pleasure working with her," Todd said. "I've learned a lot, and she will be certainly be missed."

Many of Bunch's former associates agreed with Todd's sentiments. The local director of the American Red Cross, Carol Ann Lentz, was one of them.

"I have enjoyed working with Lynda over the past three years," Lentz said. "She had been with the organization for a little over two decades, and I am sure the United Way will miss her. As a volunteer with the Red Cross, she assisted with local disasters. Lynda was always someone you could call on for help."

Bunch's replacement as executive director will be Barbara Alexander, currently the director of the Laurinburg Downtown Revitalization Committee. Alexander will begin her new position on Sept. 1.

"I haven't met with Barbara, but I understand that she will be the new executive director. She seems fresh and full of ideas, and I wish her the best."

Bunch plans to keep a high profile in the months and years ahead, having found a total of three jobs to keep her busy.

"I will never fully retire," she said. "I've always had more than one job."

One of Bunch's new positions is through the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she is involved with an ongoing study that concerns diabetics over age 60 in Scotland and the surrounding counties.

"You cannot get a group of five people together without one of them being a diabetic," Bunch said. "It is a big problem here, and this study is designed to teach health care professionals what people believe about diabetes with the ultimate goal of helping diabetics to learn how to better take care of themselves."

Bunch, who stresses that she "will still be around" through her involvement in various community projects, relishes the memories of the past 20 years spent with the United Way.

"I have enjoyed meeting and working with many people over the years, some of whom have become friends," she said. "I am very thankful for that."