Earl Bernard Kunkle

Earl Bernard Kunkle, 94, of Statesville, died Thursday, December 22, 2022, at the Gordon Hospice House.

He was born in Iredell County on August 24, 1928, to the late Earl Hill Kunkle and Treva Elaine Kunkle.

Bernard was a graduate of Statesville High School and Carolina Business College. He grew up as a part of the Broad Street UMC Congregation, later was a member at First ARP and had been a member for a number of years at Beulah Baptist Church. He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict aboard the USS McGowan DD678. Mr. Kunkle retired from JC Steele and Sons on December 31, 1990, after 38 years where he served as the Personnel Director and Pay Master. He was quite active in his community as a former member of Iredell Personnel Association, The American Society for Personnel Administration, was the 1980 Iredell County Personnel Manager of the Year, former member of US Navy Tin Can Sailors, Jaycees, and was a member of the Enrollment Committee of the NC Baptist State Convention. He was NC Secretary for Gideons International and was the former Director of the Iredell Water Corporation, and a member of the American Legion Post #65. Bernard taught Public Speaking and the Dale Carnegie Course at Mitchell College and taught Industrial Supervisor subjects for 3 years for the Statesville Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteered much of his time including 20 years with the Cool Spring Volunteer Fire Department and the Davis Regional Medical Center.

Those left to cherish his memory, include his wife, Joyce Sowers Kunkle, whom he married on October 27, 1951, two daughters, Angela Charles (Bill) of Winston-Salem NC, Carole Page (Ed) of Huntersville NC, three grandchildren, Katy Charles, Will Page, Sam Page and a sister, Barbara Campbell of Matthews NC.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Brian Burgess officiating. Private burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

To view Mr. Kunkle's Funeral Service LIVE, please visit

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3MjEwNTM1NTIyNjYwMyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Memorials may be made to Gideons International, PO Box 148, Statesville, NC 28687 or to Beulah Baptist Church, 1851 Old Mountain Rd., Statesville. Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Kunkle family. Cemetery Details





Oakwood Cemetery







114 Oakwood Rd

Statesville, NC 28677



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Funeral Service





DEC 27. 11:00 AM (ET)



Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel

135 E. Front St.

Statesville, NC



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