Bob Kunkle Sr.

Family and friends will celebrate 72 great years at an upcoming service for Bob Kunkle Sr.  A celebration of his life will be held at Bridgeport Fire Hall located at 4 Steelman Ave, Bridgeport, NJ 08014 on Saturday April 11, 2026.  The family will be welcoming friends and family from 3pm-7pm.  A full meal will be served at 4pm just as Bob would have it. He always said, “No one leaves my house hungry”.  6pm there will be a brief service with shared memories from friends and family.  The family will have a memory box and index cards available.  We would appreciate if you could write the memories down and share them with the family.

Robert (Bob) James Kunkle Sr., 72, passed away on Feb. 28, 2026 at Cooper Hospital in Camden NJ. He was born at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, PA, on December 16, 1953, to the late Walter and Evelyn Kunkle of Ridley Park, PA. Their mutual friend set them up on a blind date where he met a pretty girl named Gretchen Louise Ehle; for their first date, she cut school and he missed a day of work. They married on Nov 3, 1973 and shared 52-years of marriage blessed by a son, Robert James Kunkle Jr. (Cynthia), and a daughter, Elizabeth Sarah Kunkle, grandsons, Robert James Kunkle III and Andrew Joseph Kunkle, and granddaughters Evelyn Mae Kunkle, and Ryleigh Anne Anderson. He is predeceased by his father and mother and brother, Gary W. Kunkle (Merrilyn). He is survived by siblings Beth Manny (David), Carol Nichols (Wayne), Donna Chandler (Ferris Jeffery), Sue Hufnal Ray (William Preston), David Kunkle (Laurie), and Nancy Redmond (Harvey); and his godson, Billy Ray Hardesty.  He was uncle to 38 nieces and nephews.
Bob had been pulling wire since he was 12 years old. Following high school graduation from Ridley High School in 1971, he worked as an electrician with R. W. Tegethoff Electric in Delaware County, PA. He also worked at Sun Ship in Chester PA, Delcora in Chester PA, UMDNJ in Stratford NJ. His interest in electricity went from being an electrician to being an electric and building inspector in Voorhees, Woodbury, Woodbury Heights, Wenonah, Westville, Woolwich Twp, and Maple Shade NJ. He also was an adjunct professor at Camden County Community College and Gloucester County College teaching electrical subcode, passing his wealth of knowledge on to the next generation.
He enjoyed family and friend time at his place in Seashore Line Camper Resort in South Seaville, NJ where he owned two places between 1984-2026. And even there, on his time off, he was helping the community serving on the Seashore Line Camper Resort Board of Trustees in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. He loved being involved and making sure everyone was treated fairly. Spare time found him volunteering with his wife at Kings Things helping people out on the furniture side of the charity. His most important job may have been as Gretchen’s handyman; of course, no job was finished until the caulk came out. But it wasn’t just for Gretchen: Bob never said no to anyone. He made the Kunkle home a welcoming place, famous for its open-door policy. Foster children, friends and family needing safe harbor, and exchange students all found a safe respite. Bob always had a dog by his side and sometimes as many as 7; many were his rescues. His go-to breed was the Chihuahua. He loved his family and grandkids so much. We know he loved us all and cherished all the time he spent with his grandkids.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made in his memory to Kings Things in Swedesboro or Swedesboro-Woolwich Fire Company.