Obituary of Frances Mama" L. Tunkel

Frances "Big Mama" Lovelace Tunkel, 83, of 210 Cleveland Avenue, Lynchburg, departed this life on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Born in Gretna on October 16, 1924 she was a daughter of the late David Lovelace and Doherta Pickeral Lovelace and was the widow of Albert Jack Tunkel. Frances was a member of Lynch Station Baptist Church and an active member of the Lynchburg Area Women's Bowling Association. She served in many leadership capacities including President and in 1991 was named to the Lynchburg Area Bowling Hall of Fame. Frances owned and operated Tunkel Distributors for thirty years before her retirement in 1997. She was a loving and caring mother to her four children. Her greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. She was survived by her children A. Robert Tunkel and his former wife, Carol, of Lynchburg and their children, Christopher Tunkel and his wife, Claire of N.Y., N.Y., and David Tunkel and his wife, Staci of Atlanta, Ga. and their children, Carson and Kensey. Suzanne Peters and her husband, Dennis of Lynchburg and their children, John Stuart Peters and his wife, Beth of Nashville, TN., Austin Peters of Richmond and Reid Peters of Lynchburg. Lee Morey-Sylvester and her husband Joseph and their children, Kimberly Morey and Kirsten Morey-Becker and her husband, Christopher and their daughter, Morey Becker all of Kauai, HI. Carol Larson and her husband, Jeff of Forest and their children, Jen Roberts and her husband, Lance of Seattle, WA., Hannah Gaitten and her husband, Ron and their daughter, Noah of Longmont, CO., Will Cook of Nashville, TN. And Melanie Hoffman and her husband, Andrew of Harrisonburg, Va. Frances is also survived by her sister Alice Brumfield of Altavista and two brothers David Lovelace and his wife Jeanette of Gretna and Randall Lovelace and his wife Darlene, of Wallace, S.C. and sister-in-law Ruby Lovelace of Penhook. She was also sister to the deceased Margie Doss of Gretna and Dick Lovelace of Penhook. In addition to her family she is survived by two special friends, Carolyn Cawthorne and Roger Reynolds. A celebration of life for Frances will be held 10:00 AM Monday, October 29, 2007 at Diuguid Wiggington Chapel with the Rev. Rick Boothe officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 PM Sunday at the funeral home and other times at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law Dennis and Suzanne Peters, 2008 Oak Park Place, Lynchburg. Diuguid Funeral Service and Crematory, Wiggington Chapel, is serving the family. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Meals on Wheels and the American Cancer Society.