Connie Kunkle

Connie Leigh Kunkle passed away on December 14th, 2016, at the age of 58 after being diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. She moved to College Station a year earlier to be cared for by family. She is preceded in death by her parents Ruth Miller Kunkle and Thomas L. Kunkle. She is survived by her three sisters: Judy Kunkle King Skelton (Robert E.), of College Station, Tx; Patti Kunkle (John David) of Atlanta, GA; and Debbie Kunkle Bramblett (James H.) of Huntsville, AL. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, her great nieces and nephews and by her “chosen family” made up of a number of close friends.

Connie grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania. She started developing her musical talent in the public schools and performed in the school musicals, choirs, orchestra and band. After graduating from Ohio University with a BS in Communications, Connie’s first job was at Disney World as one of the Kids of the Kingdom.  A few years later she became an original cast member for Top of the World also at Disney World.  She went on to have an extensive career on stage and television. Connie’s resume covers a span of forty years including touring with the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, starring opposite Tim Curry in Me and My Girl, starring opposite Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and starring as Fontine in Les Miserables. Her concerts include many performances with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Queen’s Royal Marine Band in England. In addition to many television hosting opportunities, she spent the past 12 years as an on-air host for ShopNBC and Evine Live.

Connie was a deeply caring person. In the last years of Connie’s mother’s life, Connie took extraordinary care of Ruth. Connie also used her talents to fundraise for causes that were special to her including public broadcast television and the Alzheimer's Association. Through her many performances, Connie has touched the lives of people all over the world. She had an effervescent personality with  a unique gift to make anyone she met to feel like a fast friend. A star this bright will not fade quickly.

A celebration of Connie’s life is being planned for early spring. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked to please send donations in Connie Kunkle’s name to the Frontotemperal Dementia (or Degeneration) Organization at theaftd.org.

The Family of Connie Kunkle
P,O, Box 12375
College Station, TX 77842