Paul Lawrence Tunnell

1948 - 2021

Paul Lawrence Tunnell

Paul Tunnell, 73, of Denton, died unexpectedly on April 27, 2021 as the result of a fall. Paul was born on Feb. 17 1948 to the Rev. Dawson Tunnell and Joyce Baker Tunnell and was the oldest of their three children.

Paul's work experience in a variety of venues gave him broad life exposure. He was experienced as an executive at Stuart Title Company, as a mental health professional with MHMR, then in the field of property maintenance, and landscaping, of which he was especially fond.

Paul had a powerful sense of what was right and helpful, and he followed in his father's footsteps as an advocate for peace and justice. His family is particularly proud of the vision and strength it took for Paul to become the first Conscientious Objector in Denton during the Vietnam war.

Many people knew Paul as a quiet thinker with a savvy sense of humor and welcoming and penetrating eyes, one who could listen long and understand deeply. He clearly had a heart for the underdog, and would make himself available if needed - a little fixit job at your house, a ride to a doctor or grocery, help raising your tent at the community market.

We called him the Family Angel.

In his retirement years, Paul found much pleasure in chatting with his Hillcrest Street "family" in the evenings. One of them said he was "a good friend, neighborhood archivist, gentle sentinel, bearer of kind words and good humor, and overall good humanitarian".

Surviving Paul are his only child India Allen (& husband, Scott) and their four boys, Nathan, Trevor, Garrett, and Gannon; brother James Tunnell (& wife, Degan) and their children Kayla (& husband, John), Samuel, and Aishia, brother-in-law Doyle Sebesta and his children Anna (& husband, Jake), John (& wife, Bethany) and James (& wife, Analisa) with their children Lily and Peyton; Stepmother Jean Tunnell and her daughter Karen and granddaughter Katy; ex wives Sarah Adkins Cox, Lynn Steinberg, and Yvette Page and her sons Mike, Chris, and Ben.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Carla Sebesta.

A memorial service and celebration will be scheduled later.

Memorial donations may be sent to-

Stepping Stones c/o Texas Womans University.