William Tunnell

William Franklin "Bill" Tunnell, 95 passed away on March 31, 2017. He was born to Lucile Howard Tunnell and Newell Summers Tunnell in Gregory, Texas. His father passed away when he was three years old and was raised by his mother and stepfather Harold Pape.

Bill attended school and graduated from Gregory High School, class of 1938. He was a member of the first Gregory football team. After graduation, he attended college at Texas A&I University Kingsville, Texas. In addition to his studies there, he also took civilian pilot training. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps serving in World War II as a radio operator on a C-47 cargo plane with the 9th troop carrier, 7th Air Force. Bill served in the South Pacific on Saipan, Guam, Palau, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was on the first plane that landed on Iwo Jima after the U.S. overtook it. Bill was awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster for his combat area service.

With the ending of WWII in 1945, Bill returned to Texas A&I Kingsville and received B.S. and M.S. degrees there. He married Joyce Mires of Taft, Texas in 1948. Bill and Joyce settled in Corpus Christi where he taught school for 36 years at Travis and Fannin Elementary Schools. He was voted "Educator of the Year" in 1984 by the Corpus Christi City Council of Parents and Teachers. In 1966 the Tunnells moved to Portland and have remained there since.

Bill was always active in the South Texas Historical Association and was also a member of the San Patricio and Nueces County Historical Association. He was president of the Robert J. Kleberg History Club during college. Bill was an avid bird watcher and gardener who took great pride in taking care of his yard.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather; brother, John W. Tunnell, M.D. (Rose Tunnell, M.D.); brother, Newell Tunnell; and three half-brothers.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Mires Tunnell; daughters, Laura Gail Richter (Larry), Julie Eubank (Dale), JoAnn Garcia (Ray), and Amy Rodriguez (Ray); grandchildren, Alicia Richter Hinojosa (Victor), Jim Seth Richter, Miranda Eubank; great-grandson, Zachary Richter, great-great grandson, Levi Richter; nephew, Dr. John W. "Wes" Tunnell, Jr. (Kathy); nieces, Lucile Tunnell Grimes, Nancy Tunnell Hutto (Robert), and Beth Tunnell Box (Gary).

There will be a family graveside service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017, followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1701 Crosby St., Portland, Texas 78374.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Portland.