Earl W. Gunnels

Longtime Hollister resident Earl W. Gunnels died Sunday, July
27, while on vacation in Nuremburg, Germany. He was 79.
Earl W. Gunnels

Longtime Hollister resident Earl W. Gunnels died Sunday, July 27, while on vacation in Nuremburg, Germany. He was 79.

He served in the U.S. Army in World War II and owned and operated Gunnels Furniture Store. He was active in the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, nationally, statewide and with local post No. 9242, as well as The Military Order of the Cootie, an honorary degree of the VFW. Gunnels served on the honor guard for funerals for fallen veterans. He was a member of the American Legion, and of the Mound Lodge No. 166 IOOF for over 50 years where he served as a past noble grand. At the time of his death, he was treasurer of the lodge, a trustee of the lodge and a trustee of the IOOF Cemetery.

Gunnels is survived by wife Ruth Gunnels of Hollister; children and their spouses Richard and Liz Gunnels of Hollister and Ginger and Robert Boomer of Marysville, Wash.; and five grandchildren, Robert Boomer, Stephanie Blackwell, Heather Carpenter, Richard Gunnels Jr. and Frank Gunnels. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. There will be participation by Mound Lodge No. 166 IOOF and VFW Post No. 9242 for military rites. There will be a reception following the services at the IOOF Lodge on Fourth Street.

Private family inurnment will take place later at the IOOF Cemetery in the family plot.

Donations are preferred to the VFW Service Fund, VFW Auxiliary Cancer Fund or the IOOF Arthritis Fund, care of the funeral home.