Dec 30, 1946 – Sep 11, 2023
Cheryl Armedia Zunker passed peacefully in her sleep at her residence in Heath, TX, September 11, 2023. Cheryl (Cherry) was born December 30, 1946, in Rotan, TX. She was the middle of three children to Marshall Everett Grimes and Sammie Legoulia Smith. The family moved to Sweetwater, TX., where Cheryl attended Sweetwater High School. She married Brian W. Tant, who was enlisted in the United States Air Force, in 1963 and gave birth to son, Randy, in March of 1964. Following Brian’s passing, Cheryl met and married the love of her life, Arthur R. Zunker, Jr., of San Antonio, TX on May 17, 1967, where they shared an eventful and loving relationship of over 55 years together. Cheryl was a voracious reader, a lover of fantasy, romance, and spy novels. She was highly intelligent. Jokingly, she said, “I was a computer nerd before computer nerds were cool”. She attended Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, IL, in the early 1970’s, entering into the field of computer sciences, an uncommon course of study for women at the time. She was invited into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. When the family returned to Richardson, TX in 1976, Cheryl went to work for Dallas Power and Light (Texas Utilities, TXU, now Oncor) as a Computer Programmer / Analyst, writing data security protocols until her retirement in 2001. Cheryl was light hearted and funny. She tried to find humor in almost every situation. She had a beautiful singing voice and was always ready to belt out a Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn tune when the Karaoke mic was turned on. Cheryl was generous to a fault, always eager to help someone in need. She donated time and money to various causes, whether family, local fundraisers, or national organizations. Besides her own son, Randy, Cheryl was affectionately known as “Mom” to dozens of kids in the neighborhood. She was always willing to take in the occasional “stray” kid, for a meal, advice, or lending a sympathetic ear, treating each kid as she would her very own, even if that meant getting on to them. Cheryl and Arthur travelled the world, enjoying many sights and experiencing various cultures … Canada, Mexico, several islands in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Panama, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, Monaco, China, Guam, Fiji, and several U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawai’i. Cheryl is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur R. Zunker, Jr., son Robert M. Zunker, infant, parents Marshall E. Grimes and Sammie L. Grimes, sister Lynda DuPont, and brother Marshall E. Grimes, Jr. She is survived by her son Brian R. (Randy) Zunker and his wife Susan Zunker of Heath, TX, sisters-in-law Cynthia Zunker and Charlotte Naylor of San Antonio, TX, Sheree Husta and husband Bill Husta of Seguin, TX, her grandchildren Michelle Levell and her husband Matthew Levell of San Antonio, TX, Joshua Leckie of Houston, TX, Sarah Reiser of San Antonio, TX, Zachary Cullen stationed in Norfolk, VA, and Christopher Tant of Tampa, FL, along with several great-grand children, one great-great-grandchild, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy., San Antonio, TX 78218, at 10:00 am, Thursday, September 28, 2023. Internment and Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family asks please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:
Dementia Society of America
Or
Alzheimer’s Association
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