Obituary of Ray H Kunkel

Ray H. Kunkel, 87, of Bridgewater, NJ and Mt. Vernon, ME died peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 31, 2013. A son of the late Ira and Hazel (McCurly) Kunkel, Ray was born August 3, 1926 in Beaver Meadows, PA. Upon graduation from Hazleton HS, he joined the US Navy to serve in WWII as a Seabee on Guam in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, he married his childhood sweetheart Lysod Jermyn and moved to NJ to start his family. He worked at American Cyanamid Co.(Calco) in Bridgewater for the next 40 years moving from shift supervisor to the personnel department after earning his BS degree from Trenton State College (TCNJ). A member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick, NJ, Ray was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Somerville and active in the leadership of that congregation. Throughout his life he enjoyed participating in sports (baseball, bowling, golf), drawing and painting in oils, and travelling. He built a summer home on Flying Pond, Maine and enjoyed time there over the past 40 years. His greatest source of joy and pride were the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lysod; his children Louise Brokaw (Staats, deceased) of Clinton Twp., Leah Wintemute (David) of Bethlehem Twp., Ray Kunkel (Virginia Hale) of Northfield, VT.; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Paul F. Kunkel of Nesquehoning, PA. Funeral services will take place at 11 am, January 11 at Zion Lutheran Church, Old Turnpike Road, Oldwick, NJ. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion LC, PO Box 41, Oldwick, NJ 08858.