Carolyn Lee Kunkel

Carolyn Lee Kunkel died peacefully on May 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Lemoyne, PA.

She was a force of nature. She came by it naturally. She was born August 7, 1929, in Augusta, GA to a “flying family.” Her father, a man ahead of his time, brought the first air strip to the city of Augusta. Her brother, Billy Lee, made the Guiness Book of Records for the youngest solo flyer at the age of 11 in 1935.

Carolyn graduated summa cum laude from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA, in June of 1950. She married Dr. W. Minster Kunkel, Jr. of Harrisburg, PA. They started their marriage in Rochester, MN, where Dr. Kunkel had a four-year fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. They moved to Harrisburg in 1954, where Dr. Kunkel established his practice with the Kunkel Surgical Group.

Carolyn’s life was busy raising their five active children. She also heavily involved herself in the Harrisburg community—as a volunteer, prolific fundraiser, and she also chaired many organizations, including the Harrisburg Hospital Women's Auxiliary, Homeland Center, the Junior League, Visiting Nurses, Family & Children’s Service, United Way, Planned Parenthood, YMCA, Red Cross, Keystone Human Services, and the Advisory Board of Harrisburg Academy.

She loved the game of tennis, enjoyed scuba diving with her family and special friends, enjoyed water skiing at their lake home, and even solo piloted a plane after taking the “pinch hitter” companion pilot course.

She traveled extensively with her husband, children, grandchildren and friends. She visited exotic places around the world, from the plains of the Serengeti to the Great Wall of China.

She is survived by her five children, William M. Kunkel, Elizabeth K. Davis (Allen Peffer), John C. Kunkel (Jamie Kunkel), Deborah K. Facini (Joseph Facini) and Paul A. Kunkel (Rosemary L. Kunkel). She had 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Her husband of 56 years of marriage died in 2006. She continued to enjoy good health and her adored family for many years.

What a good life! A life well lived.

She preferred you give to the charity of your preference rather than send flowers.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 29 from 11AM to 2PM on the lawn of her home at 537 Bridgeview Drive, Lemoyne, PA.