Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow -- Bonlee native Robert "Hunky" Paschal on life and work as Bonlee's only barber. What once looked like a career for life seemed not so sure in 1978, as long hair styles for men reduced trips to the barber shop and changes in shopping habits took business away from small towns like Bonlee.
Thanks to Alvis Dunn for sharing this story from the Greensboro Daily News, 27 Aug 1978.
Bonlee native Kim Beal added to Hunky's story in 2025. We share his comments here:
When you mention Bonlee, the most associated name with it is Hunky Paschal (Robert Fred Paschal was his real name). We all knew him as Hunky.
Hunky was the town Barber, Justice of the Peace, (he is said to have married over 100 couples), Wildlife Agent - (issued Burning Permits), and Notary Public. He did a lot of things besides just cutting hair. He was very smart. He knew how to work things, and how to get things done. He had what I call a “natural legal mentality.”
It’s been a long time since the last haircut took place in his shop. The shop had been cleared out, sinks removed, old wood stove removed, the antique ceiling fan that stirred the air and blew all the tall tales and lies around the room is gone.
I did locate one of his barber chairs that had made its way to another long-time well-known Siler City barber, Mr. Reid Marley. Reid had the chair in storage. I told him I wanted to take it home -- to Bonlee -- and we worked out a deal. Hunky’s chair is back where it sat for several decades. It came complete with the little padded board that stretched from arm to arm that every kid in Bonlee probably sat on to get a haircut.
Hunky gave me my first haircut about 1963. Clipped all my curls off and mama made daddy go back down to the shop and get them off the floor.
The other chair that was in the shop at one time is still in full use at an uptown barber shop in Charlotte, NC, according to Hunky’s son Phil, Hunky’s son.
We have enjoyed having Phil and Johnie come visit with their grandchildren to have their pictures taken sitting in Hunky’s chair.
Hunky touched so many lives during his years in Bonlee. He loved Bonlee.
That’s actually what’s written on his tombstone “He Loved Bonlee.”
Bonlee loved Hunky.
No better place in the world I could have grown up in. Many good people. Many great memories. I love Bonlee too!
Thanks to Kim for sharing this tribute to both Hunky and Bonlee.
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