Anna Jane Stewart Kunkle, age 86, resident of Waterford, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Cambridge Springs Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a long illness. She was born on July 2, 1927 in Hadley, Mercer County, PA, the third child of the late James Jay and Flossie Diefenderfer Stewart.
Anna graduated from Stoneboro High School in 1945, and worked for Murphy’s 5 & 10 in Greenville and for Westinghouse in Sharon before moving to Erie. She then worked at General Electric where she met her husband, McCrea “Budd” Kunkle. They were married March 4, 1955 in the Methodist Church in Lawrence Park by the late Rev. Paul Smith. After living briefly in Kirtland, OH, they returned to Erie until 1972 when they made their home in Waterford, where there was always a houseful of teenagers, as Anna was Mom to all her children’s friends.
Anna was active in the Waterford Presbyterian Church serving as an elder, deacon, vacation bible school teacher, and member of the Women’s Association. She also served on the auxiliary of the former Presbyterian Home in Cambridge Springs where she enjoyed playing Santa Claus for the annual Christmas party for the residents.
Anna loved to drive and see new places, especially when she and Budd could get in their motor home and just “take off”. One of her favorite songs was “Far Away Places”.
Besides her parents, Anna was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Leroy Moore, and sisters-in-law, Virginia Stewart and Esther Stewart.
Surviving is her husband, McCrea “Budd” Kunkle; three sons– Kenneth Kunkle and wife Shirley of Gloucester, VA, Bruce Kunkle and wife Susan of Cambridge Springs, and Gary Kunkle and wife Robin of Halsted, PA; a daughter, Susan Mayhue and husband Merle of Saluda, VA; and 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and 1 step-great-grandchild.
Friends are invited to calling hours at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Waterford on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Erie County Memorial Gardens.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association, 1128 State Street, Erie, PA 16501.
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