We celebrate the legacy and faithful life of Rev. Dr. Carroll Reese Gunkel, a retired elder of the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, who died Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a long illness.
Rev. Dr. Gunkel was a graduate of Baltimore City College and Loyola University of Maryland. He received his Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary in the nation’s capitol and his PHD from St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore.
During his 61 years as a pastor, he served seven churches in the Baltimore Washington area and was an exchange pastor at Sandal UMC in Wakefield, England in 1979 and served as the interim minister at the Chinese Community church in Washington, D.C. He was the Director of Development of Asbury Methodist Village for three years.
Concurrent with his pastoral ministry, Rev. Dr. Gunkel was an adjunct professor of philosophy, ethics, and religion at several community colleges in the Baltimore Washington area and at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.
His published works include INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, THE UNLIKELY BRIDE, THEY MET THE MASTER, and articles in The Upper Room, Interpreter, Circuit Rider, United Methodist Today, Emphasis and the Virginia Seminary Journal.
Twice named “Young Man of the Year” while pastor of Trinity Church in Catonsville, Rev. Dr. Gunkel was also included in OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN IN AMERICA – 1969 and named Bethesda Religious Leader of the Year in 1989.
Additionally, he was a member of the Committee on Medicine and Religion, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland; Governor’s Committee of Life Preservation; the Montgomery County Human Relations Committee; the Board of Directors of United Campus Ministries – University of Maryland; the President’s Advisory Board, Wesley Seminary; the Board of Trustees of Asbury Village; the Board of Directors of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore; and the president of the Board of Child Care, Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church.
Rev. Dr. Gunkel was born on March 3, 1937, to John G. and Gertrude Huhn Gunkel, now deceased. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Barbara Hall Gunkel and their three loving children, Susan Wood and her husband Michael, Stephanie Turner and her husband James, and Christopher Gunkel and his wife Kimberly. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Kyle (Kasey), Abbie (Brendan), Sam (Abbey), Ryan, Liam and Sadie and great grandchildren, Jackson, Caroline and Charlotte.
A memorial service to celebrate Rev. Dr. Gunkel’s life was held Saturday August 9, 2025, at the Catonsville Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore, 3817 Fleetwood Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21206.