Joseph Peyton Tunstall Jr., Ph. D.

Published 7:13 pm Thursday, September 11, 2014

JOSEPH PEYTON TUNSTALL JR, PH. D.

May 10, 1947 – Sept. 9, 2014

Joseph Peyton Tunstall, Jr., PhD. a resident of Washington, NC, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Danny Allen and the Rev. Chris Leak conducting the service. Graveside immediately following at Oakdale Cemetery. Charles Stephen Gravely, Jr., Ross Tunstall Gravely, Charles Bryan Ross, Chad Warren, Gordon Watts, David Carter, Ben Brinson, and Milton Dail will serve as pallbearers.

Mr. Tunstall was born May 10, 1947, in Washington, NC. He was the son of Joseph Peyton Tunstall and Emily Bryan Squires Tunstall. He graduated from Washington High School in 1965. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Carolina University. He earned a doctorate degree in Education from Columbia University.  He was a druggist at Tayloe Drug Store for 30 years with his father.  He retired from Beaufort County Schools, serving as a teacher, school administrator and central office supervisor. He served on the Washington City Council for six years.

On Aug. 22, 1970, he married Judith Ann “Judy” Keel Tunstall.  Children born to their union were a daughter, Judith Jeannette “Jenny” Tunstall, and sons, Joseph Peyton Tunstall, III, and Lonnie Abbott Squires Tunstall. Jenny is married to Eugene Lyle Tinklepaugh and they reside in Rocky Mount, NC. Joseph is married to Lisa Michelle Hyman Tunstall and they live in Rocky Mount, NC. Abbott is married to Hillary Rebecca Bang Tunstall and they live in Washington, NC. Grandchildren include Lilly Catherine Boone, Emily Bryan Tinklepaugh, Hannah Ross Tinklepaugh, Lonnie Abbott Squires Tunstall, Jr., and Joseph Peyton “Peyt” Tunstall, IV.

Other survivors include sister and brother-in-law, Martha Tunstall Gravely and Charles Stephen “Steve” Gravely; sister-in-law, Sherer M. Keel; three nephews, Charles Stephen Gravely, Jr., and wife Tracey of Wilmington, NC, Ross Tunstall Gravely and wife Jennifer of Burlington, NC, and Joshua Lewellyn Keel of Ocracoke, NC; niece, Jena Keel Tyx and husband Jeff of Kitty Hawk, NC; and two great nieces, Rachael Ann Gravely and Phoebe Elizabeth Gravely.

Also surviving are cousins, Charles Bryan Ross and Gayle Clark, Elizabeth Daniels “Libby” Garris and husband A.J.  Wife’s special family Ed Oman of Tampa, FL; Doris Oman-Davidson of Tampa, FL; and Henry B. Roebuck of Greenville, NC.

Mr. Tunstall began his career in education teaching in Edgecombe County. In the Beaufort County Schools system, he served as a teacher, assistant principal, and in several roles in the central office. While on the Washington City Council, he was elected Mayor Pro Tempore and served in that role when Washington was named an All-American City.

His passion in retirement was making his grandchildren laugh. He never turned down a chance to take the grandkids on a boat ride. He loved to hunt and fish with his boys. He taught his daughter how to dance and shoot free throws.  He was an avid reader. He was a member of the Ne’er Do Well’s Club that met at Warren’s Sporting Goods. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and past president of the Washington Evening Rotary Club. He was a past member of the Washington Jaycees, the Civitan Club, and the Optimist Club. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Washington, NC, and the Methodist Men’s Club. He served on the church’s board of trustees and helped start the Methodist Men’s breakfast.

In lieu of flowers the family requests those wishing to make donations in his memory make them to the First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Second St., Washington, NC.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory.

Condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Tunstall family.