William R. "Bill" Kunkel Jr., 76, of Palmetto, Ga., passed away on to his eternal reward Monday after a brief illness.

Born in West Sunbury, in December 1931, he was a son of William R. Sr. and Ellen V. Kunkel.

He retired as a truck driver from Coastal Tank Lines and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which he joined at the age of 19. He was past president of the Teamsters Local 728 Retirees and had held several offices in the Pittsburgh teamsters locals.

Mr. Kunkel attended the Church of Jesus Christ in Fayetteville, Ga.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Bonnie Kunkel; daughters, Karen Watford and her husband, Vaughn, of Conroe, Texas, Marilyn Grossman and her husband, Brad, of Charleston, W.Va., and Beverly Allen of Newnan, Ga.; a son, Samuel D. Kunkel Sr. and his wife, Teresa, of Palmetto; grandchildren, Shawn Watford and his wife, Cindy, David Watford and his wife, Traci, Samuel D. Kunkel Jr. and his wife, Julia, Micah Kunkel and his girlfriend, Ashley Smith, Caleb Kunkel and Alyssa Allen; and great-grandchildren Alexis, Jordan, Kalien and Tyler Watford and Grace Elizabeth Kunkel.

He was preceded in death by three sisters.

<B>KUNKEL </B>— Friends of William R. "Bill" Kunkel Jr., who died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the <B>Parrott Funeral Home</B>, Fairburn, Ga. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Elder Tom Jones officiating. Burial will be at the Sharon Memorial Gardens, Tyrone, Ga.Online condolences may be submitted at www.parrottfuneralhome.com.