Dr. Kenneth D. Tunnell

1931 - 2022

Dr. Kenneth D. Tunnell
February 8, 1931 - June 6, 2022
Richmond, Kentucky - Dr. Kenneth D. Tunnell, 91, of Richmond, Kentucky, passed away early Monday morning, June 6, 2022, at Baptist Health Richmond.
He was born in Hamblen County, Tennessee, on February 8, 1931, the son of Violet Carmichael Tunnell and Dana Hampton Tunnell. Ken graduated from high school in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and entered Carson-Newman College, also in Jefferson City, where he met Janrose Lawson of Corbin, Kentucky. Upon their graduation from Carson-Newman, they were married in December 1952. Kenneth remained a steadfast, protective, and devoted husband to Jan throughout the course of their sixty-nine-year marriage. He served in the United States Air Force 1952-1956 and served in Japan in Security Services during the Korean Conflict.
Ken earned graduate degrees at Eastern Kentucky State College and the University of Kentucky. He taught for thirty-five years, with an early career, pre-post-graduate work, as a high school English teacher in both Corbin and Williamsburg but was encouraged and hired as an Instructor at Eastern by Dr. Robert R. Martin in 1962. He retired from Eastern Kentucky University as Professor Emeritus and served as Dean of Continuing Education.
In retirement, he and Jan enjoyed many years of traveling, golf trips, golfing at Arlington, EKU sporting events, arts events, and, in general, the camaraderie of friends. Known for his kind and gentle manner, Ken was a voracious reader, particularly on world and comparative religions, a crossword puzzle enthusiast, gardener, cat lover and insightful conversationalist with friends of all ages. A long-time member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Richmond, Ken served as a deacon, elder, and was once Chairman of the Board.
He was preceded in death by his parents and older siblings, sister Frances Tunnell and brother Wayne Tunnell.
Surviving Ken are his wife Janrose of Richmond, and his daughter Ellen Tunnell of Lexington, Kentucky.
A private family burial will be held in the Richmond Cemetery. A public memorial service will be held for all to honor Ken on Saturday, June 18, at 1:00pm, at the First Christian Church in Richmond with Reverend Patrick Messer, Dr. Glenn Birkett, and Dr. Robert Vickers officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Christian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 216, Richmond, Kentucky, 40476, or to the Richmond Area Arts Council, P.O. Box 515, Richmond, Kentucky, 40476.
The Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home, Richmond, is in charge of arrangements.
www.cpcfh.com