Linda Elizabeth Kuncl

Linda Elizabeth Kuncl, age 67, died on January 20, 2016, after an extended illness. She was born in 1948 at Newberry, South Carolina to Kenneth and Claudia Beaty of the same city. Linda is survived by her husband, Gary Kuncl of Exeter, California, and by their sons, Matthew Kuncl of Visalia and Timothy Kuncl of Washington State. Linda’s extended family includes her brother, Roger Beaty, of Lake Forest, California, and two sisters--Susan Darcy, of Prattville, Alabama and Nancy Beaty, of Huntington Beach, California. No young mother was ever more devoted than Linda to nurturing and raising two boys and supporting her husband’s career. It was her total focus; and she thrived in this role. In addition to being a career homemaker, Linda worked as a teller for several years in the banking industry and as a teaching assistant at Linwood School in Visalia. Later she served as a senior account clerk in the Tulare County Office of County Counsel. However, her favorite vocation was to own and operate her own business in which she created dolls and other wood and fabric collectibles. These she sold at the major home and garden shows for over ten years. She started modestly in what can be a very hard environment and learned her lessons well. For twelve consecutive Christmas and Easter seasons, Linda opened her own shop and sold her products at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. She reached middle age at about this time and really hit her stride. Linda was quite successful in this endeavor and enjoyed it immensely. In this work, Linda was a rare combination of art and commerce. She could create original items and then go on to market them brilliantly. On a busy day in the Berry Farm Ghost Town, roughly twenty thousand people would walk by her shop. Some would come in. Linda had a cordial, but gentle approach to a person who had just walked into her shop. No high pressure. She would take time to talk with them. She had a knack for sensing what kind collectible would most appeal to a person, and then would guide them in the right direction. Many customers came back year after year to see what was new on her shelves. And they could sense they were dealing with a quality woman. In her later years, Linda became active in her community. She would periodically stun associates with her talents. Most acquaintances had no idea of Linda’s background. All they knew was that she could, with ease, design and produce brilliant décor for their fundraisers and other events. Linda’s community activities included serving as president of the Acorn Garden Club, the Exeter Garden Club, and most recently, the Tulare County Symphony League. Linda was also a member of PEO Chapter UR, and the Valley Oak Garden Club of Tulare. Linda also enjoyed participating with an informal knitting group, meeting each week in Visalia. Although new at knitting, Linda regularly surprised associates there with her newly acquired skills. Here again, Linda’s past background enabled her to catch on quickly. Finally, Linda enjoyed meeting regularly with a literary group in Visalia who called themselves, “The Bookies.” Having profound compassion and affection for the elderly, Linda volunteered for over two years to meet with residents of the Delta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Visalia to coach them in the making of craft items. Those people who met and worked with Linda through the years found her to be a woman of great dignity, graciousness and integrity. She will be missed. SURVIVED BY: PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: VISITATION WILL BEGIN: SERVICES: BURIAL WILL BE AT: A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

Linda Elizabeth Kuncl

October 29, 1948 - January 20, 2016