Ethel Gunkel Kinberger's Obituary
Ethel (Gunkel) Kinberger passed on to her eternal life on Monday, July 25, 2022 in the presence of her family. After declining health over the last year, she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior and be reunited with her family members in heaven. The celebration of her life will be Friday, July 29, 2022 at noon at the New Zion Baptist Church in Covington, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the service begins. Interment will follow in New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. Her family has designated the lunch ministry program at New Zion Baptist Church for memorials honoring Ms. Ethel.
Ethel was the 11th and last child born to her parents, Fred W., and Bertha (Hopkins) Gunkel. She was born on May 16, 1933, at the family home in Eldorado, Oklahoma. She received her early education in the Eldorado Public School, but finished high school in Lawton, Oklahoma, after her parents moved to a farm in rural Lawton. She said it was quite a shock to move from a town of 700 people to a school with more students than her previous hometown! She graduated from Lawton High School and started working in a Civil Service position at the Ft. Sill U.S. Army base. She was transferred to a base in Dothan, Louisiana, where she spotted a fellow walking by her desk that she thought was the most handsome guy she had ever seen. That guy was John Walter “Jack” Kinberger. Ethel and Jack were married August 11, 1955, at the Baptist minister’s home in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Ethel worked throughout her life in bookkeeping and accounting for Civil Service, Dorothy Reeves CPA, and Crowley Consulting Corporation. She and Jack made their home in Gretna, Louisiana. She was on the building committee for her church, Calvary Baptist Church in Algiers and was active in her Sunday School class. After retirement, she and Jack moved to an acreage in Folsom, Louisiana. She loved her church, New Zion Baptist Church and was instrumental in launching the lunch ministry there. Most recently, Ethel and Jack had been living at Avanti Senior Living in Covington, Louisiana.
After almost 7 years of marriage, Ethel and Jack welcomed their first child, David Kinberger, in 1962. A year later, their daughter, Diane, was born. Ethel loved being a mother and later, a grandmother and great-grandmother. She tried her best to get to all the grandchildren’s activities and was quick to share with family and friends how proud she was of all her family. Her favorite movie of all time was “Glory Road” because her oldest grandchild, Sean Shields, had a part in the movie.
Ethel had a great sense of humor and was the clown of her large, extended family. Family reunions through the years always included funny photos where she was applying lipstick, expressing mock indignation, or providing cheesy poses for the camera. She enjoyed her position as the baby of the family. Ethel’s middle name was Sylvesta, and she grew up being called by that name, but she hated it. As an adult, she requested that all the family start calling her by her first name. Some obliged, but many persisted in calling her Sylvesta, either from habit or just to get a rise out of her!
Ethel’s family waiting for her in heaven include her parents, Fred and Bertha Gunkel; her siblings: Ewing (Ruby) Gunkel, Gladys (Fate) Thurmond, Eugene (Lucille) Gunkel, Syble (Eugene) Holly, R.J. Gunkel, Theaola (Woody) Lynn, Frances (Wimer) Watkins, Jake Gunkel, and Elizabeth (Ralph) Klein. Other deceased family members include brother-in-law, Everett Kirkpatrick, and several nieces and nephews.
Surviving family members include her husband of almost 67 years, Jack Kinberger; her son and his family: David (Pam) Kinberger; Kayla (Adam) Berrios and their daughter, Avery Marie Berrios; and Jacob Kinberger; her daughter and her family: Diane Blancher, Sean (Celeste) Shields and their children, Madyson and Ava; Philip (Lauren) Blancher and their children, Mark, Josephine, and Luke. Ethel is also survived by a sister, Geneva Gunkel Kirkpatrick; a sister-in-law, Jimmie Lou Gunkel; many nieces and nephews, and many dear friends and neighbors.
Ethel’s faith sustained her throughout her life, and she wanted everyone she knew to know about salvation. Her life has been a testimony about love, grace, and mercy. All who knew her will miss her sweet spirit and sense of humor.
The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at Avanti Senior Living at Covington for their special care and kindness towards Ms. Ethel and Mr. Jack.
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