Floyd Kunkle

Floyd Stanley "Jake" Kunkle passed away in Boerne, Texas on January 12, 2016.\r\n\r\nBorn on January 20, 1928 in Creekside, PA, White Township/Indiana County, Stan was the son of Floyd George Kunkle and Jean Marie Kunkle. He met Nancy (Douglas) in Seoul, Korea while serving in the Navy and they married on June 1, 1962. God blessed them with two children: Cathy Vitanza (Robert) with granddaughters Caroline and Meredith, and Matthew Kunkle (Marisa) with granddaughters Elena and Kate. Stan was the eldest of four siblings: brother Richard "Dick" (Lee), brother Robert "Bob" (Gwen - deceased), and Dorie - deceased (Joe Muller). \r\n\r\nStan attended Indiana High School in Indiana, PA where he lettered in basketball. During his teenage years, he worked on the farm of his grandparents Clarence and Dora Kunkle, plowing the fields with work horses and milking the cows in the early morning hours before school - he even delivered milk to actor Jimmy Stewart's family in town. \r\n\r\nAfter graduating high school, Stan boarded a train and moved across country to California. He attended San Bernardino Valley College (1946-1948) where he played basketball. His love of aviation then took him to flight training in Corpus Christie, TX where received his wings in 1950. He was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet - VP Squadron 24 Patuxent River MD from 1950-1953. During this time, he was deployed to Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as to Anti-Submarine Operations for the North Atlantic operating out of Argentia, Newfoundland. He then began his journey as a flight instructor at the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, FL (1953-1955) followed by a year at the Navy's post-graduate school in Monterey, CA. Subsequent assignments took Stan to the South China Sea in 1956 as a CIC Officer aboard the carrier USS Philippine Sea CVS47, and then on to serve as Aircraft Commander of the Lockheed Super Constellation in Atlantic Fleet - Airborne Warning Squadron VW-13. \r\n\r\nStan continued his education, graduating in 1959 from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts, then moved on to Air Intelligence School at Anacostia in Washington, D.C. He later served as a Senior Staff Intelligence Officer for Commander Naval Forces, Korea; then as a part of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. He was promoted to Commander-Senior Staff Officer Commander Patrol Forces Seventh Fleet-Okinawa, and finally ended his Naval career in 1970 as Deputy to Head, Intelligence Systems, Naval Intelligence Command.\r\n\r\nCommander Kunkle completed 22 years of continuous active duty. Among his awards and commendations were the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service 4 Stars Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal (1960), and the Secretary of Defense's Certificate of Appreciation for serving in the armed forces in defense of our Nation during the Cold War \r\n\r\nUpon retiring from the Navy, Stan followed his calling as an educator and began his teaching career (1972-1991), building award winning Naval Junior ROTC programs at McDowell High School, Marion NC; Nimitz High School, Irving, TX; Wilmer Hutchins High School, Dallas, TX; A. Maceo Smith, Dallas, TX. During his time as a teacher, he received the Civetan Citizen of the Year 1974, the Admiral's trophy 2 times, community service award (1980), and teacher of the year (1988).\r\n\r\nAdditional community involvement included: Arlington, TX: St. Albans Episcopal Church 1976-1990 served as both Junior and Senior Warden; Pottsboro, TX: Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year 1996, served for two years as the President of the Lions Club in Pottsboro, and from1998-2003 as Justice of the Peace, Precinct #8; he was also a member of the Texas Silver Haired Legislature for three years.\r\n\r\nThroughout his life, Stan/Jake/Dad/Granddaddy was many things to many people: a leader, a servant, a role model, and a gentleman. He adored his wife Nancy and the life they created together - from Okinawa to D.C., to the farm in Pennsylvania, to North Carolina, to Texas. Stan always loved to share stories about flying and his military adventures around the globe, but in most recent years he was happiest just sharing time with family and keeping busy outside. With his courage, kindness, and devotion, Stan touched the lives of all he met and mentored. The last of the true gentlemen, he was truly loved, and he will be deeply missed.\r\n\r\nFuneral services were held at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Bandera, TX on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2:00pm followed by burial with military honors at the Tarpley Cemetery.