Back to our OBITUARY page. Viola I.E. Kunkle

Mayfield Heights- Viola Idabel-Eudora Kunkle, 93, of N. Ridge W., passed away Monday, June 18, 2012 at Hillcrest Hospital. She was born December 21, 1918, in Rosthern Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of Charles Henry and Sarah Jane (Anderson) Wilker. Viola came to the states with her sister Eleanor to attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert “Bob” Kunkle. Viola received a degree in Business Administration from Miami University and worked several years for JC Penny. When Robert was called to serve his country, Viola took a bus to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to marry her college sweetheart before he was sent overseas. Vi went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Kent State University and then went on to complete her Master’s Degree from Kent. Viola became an elementary teacher in the Ashtabula City School System for 30 years, starting as a substitute and then full time at Chestnut Street School, Station Avenue, and finishing her career at Thomas Jefferson. Viola had a special place in her heart for all her little students. She retired from teaching to care for her husband, Bob, who suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years. She cared for him in their home until his death in 1995. Even though Viola never learned to swim, she enjoyed spending summer days with her children at Walnut Beach, and Lake Shore Park. She loved to sew and knit, and made many of her children’s cloths. She was always making new outfits for her daughter’s dolls, even knitting a small sweater vest with toothpicks. Viola moved out to Saybrook in 2005 to live with her daughter Barbara. She enjoyed sitting on her back porch eating her meals and taking in the sun. She was an avid Cleveland Indians fan, always tuning in on the radio or the television. Her son-in-law Tom gave her rides on his four wheeler cart through the woods and trails on their property, and Vi greatly enjoyed time with him. Mrs. Kunkle was a VIP Blood Donor for the Red Cross donating many gallons of blood over her lifetime. She volunteered many hours at the Ashtabula County Medical Center. She was past Worthy Matron of Order of Eastern Star, past Worthy High Priestess of White Shrine of Jerusalem, and member of Order of Amaranth. In 1947, she joined St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. She greatly loved her church and her church family, and volunteering to help at many functions the church provided for the parishioners and the community. Vi is survived by her daughters, Catherine (Dan) Platano of Concord, Ohio, Barbara (Tom) DeBarber of Ashtabula; son, Robert (Jeanine) Kunkle of Sheffield Lake.; grandchildren, Dennis (Valerie)Vacchelli, Chandra (Jason) Ruminski, Charise (Allen) Sanders, Trevor (Heidi) Kunkle, and Veronica Kunkle and Chasity, Charles, and Thomas DeBarber; and great-grandchildren, Caleb, Emily, Kaye, and Jonathan Sanders, Abbey and Caitlyn Ruminski, Alli, Gerrilynn, and Robert Vacchelli, Austin, Ryan, Aiden, and Landon Kunkle; and Alexis, Reyna, Charles, Peter, Anthony, Gavin, and Gillian DeBarber; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Kunkle, brother, Stanley C. Wilker; sisters, Luella Winkenweder, Edna M. Funk, and Eleanor Sturwold. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 11:00 am at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4901 Main Ave, with Father David Evans officiating. Friends may call from 10Am until the time of service at 11:00 am. Should friends desire memorials may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society , the Alzeheimer’s Association, or the American Red Cross. DUCRO FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 4524 Elm Ave., Ashtabula is handling arrangements. www.ducro.com

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Obitituaries dated before July 16, 2009 are located here.