Edward A. “Zan” Tunstall, 84, of Hamlet, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.
He was born Feb. 24, 1941 in Richmond County, a son of the late William A. and Blanche Peele Tunstall.
Zan graduated from Hamlet High School in 1959 and served in the U.S. Army. He worked as an engineer for CSX Railroad until his retirement in 2002.
Zan was a member of Marks Creek Presbyterian Church serving in many leadership roles over the years including elder, deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, leader of the Men’s Group and singing in the choir. Additionally, he was active with the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program going several times with the team from Marks Creek Church to provide disaster relief. Zan was also a member of the local chapter of Gideons International and the American Legion Post 147 in Rockingham.
In his younger years, he really enjoyed coaching youth athletics, especially baseball, and could still be heard coaching from the stands when watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play.
In addition to his parents, Zan was also preceded in death by two sons, Tim Tunstall and Larry Tunstall.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at 3 p.m. at Marks Creek Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Bill Monroe and the Rev. Ken Goins officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends during a reception following the funeral in the church fellowship hall.
Zan is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gayle Hammond Tunstall; grandchildren, Larry Tunstall Jr., Mikey Steele, Robert Steele Jr., Anna Zuniga, Colton, Chloe, Max and Brooke Steele; great-grandchildren, Paige Goodman, Draven Tunstall, Chance Tunstall, Braden and Kylee Polson, Colton, Chloe, Max and Brooke Steele; Great-great-grandson Dax.
Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 414 Rockingham, NC 28380; or Richmond Co. Hospice, 1119 N. U.S. Hwy 1 Rockingham, NC 28379.
Online condolences may be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Tunstall family.
