by Bonnie L. Cook, Staff Writer, Posted: August 29, 2016
G. William Tunnell, 97, of Springfield, Delaware County, a retired division vice president for RCA Corp., died Aug. 21 of pneumonia at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Mr. Tunnell lived in Springfield until 2005, when he moved to Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square.

He was born in West Philadelphia to J. Vaughan and Esther Tunnell (pronounced tun-NEL).

Early in life, he developed an interest in ham radio. At age 12, he and a cousin built a galena crystal receiver, a type of radio. Soon after, he became proficient in Morse code and was licensed as a ham radio operator. His call sign was W3DVC.

Mr. Tunnell's interest in radio technology led him to seek employment with the RCA Corp. in Camden. He spent 35 years there, starting with the construction, repair, and installation of test facilities involving military, TV, and special-purpose electronic equipment.

He became vice president of the service division before retiring in 1975.

Even while retired, he remained active in the communications industry, as president of the West Philadelphia Radio Society and director of the South Jersey Radio Association.

In the 1960s, he was awarded the Veteran Wireless Operators Association Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement.

Mr. Tunnell married Elizabeth Kurz, known as "Bess," in 1942. The couple enjoyed summers at the Jersey Shore and spending time with their children and grandchildren. She died in 2001.

Mr. Tunnell was a member of the Newtown Square Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed music, finance, and politics.

"He was very independent, driven, a typical executive," said his son, John Tunnell. At home, though, "he had fun with us. We were very active in fishing, boating."

Besides his son, he is survived by a daughter, Barbara Rudolph; a sister; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A visitation starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, will be followed by an 11 a.m. funeral at Newtown Square Presbyterian Church, 3600 Goshen Rd., Newtown Square, Pa. 19073. Interment will be in Fernwood Cemetery, Lansdowne.

Memorial donations can be made to the Newtown Square Presbyterian Church Music Fund at the address above, or Shriners Hospital for Children-Philadelphia, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia 19140. The gift should be designated for the G. William Tunnell Memorial Gift Fund.

Posted: August 29, 2016 - 3:01 AM