Olin Joseph Tunnell was born on November 19, 1931, in Cisco, Texas and passed away in Gunnison, Colorado on September 8, 2021. He was two months short of living 90 years, a lifetime of loving God and his fellow human beings.

Olin felt the call to preach at the age of 15 on a Boy Scout hike and started preaching at 17. His education included a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Texas Wesleyan University and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He maintained Texas licenses for clinical social work and chemical dependency counseling. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

His life of service included pastoring many United Methodist churches throughout Texas, earning his Eagle Scout, teaching high school speech and drama, counseling troubled youth, working with pre-release federal offenders and leading alcohol and drug abuse groups. He was especially proud of the students he taught in the Trinity University Upward Bound Program and the 21 years he served on the board of the Braination Charter School that built the innovative Anne Frank Inspire Academy.

Olin loved movies and theater. While in college, he acted in several plays. In later years he did some acting with Theater Three in Dallas. He was a season ticket holder of the Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado, where he loved to sit in the front row.

During retirement, he and his wife called Lake City Colorado their second home. They loved the mountains and traveling in a motorhome. He found time to publish three books: Searching Ashes for Burning Embers, My April Fool Wives, and What You Have in Mind is the Life you Find .

Olin never met a stranger and always looked for the good in people. He often expressed his personal outlook by saying, "Fear says we can't, Faith says we can." After overcoming severe childhood asthma, a heart attack, and throat cancer, he told others to "never give up" and "God has the last word." He touched and changed many lives—and made the world a better place.

He is survived by his wife Jessica Star, sister Harriet Tunnell, the mother of his children June Tunnell, and his three children, Shawn Tunnell (and wife Debi), Lisa Malone (and husband Mark), Kyle Tunnell (and wife Nita). Grandchildren: Justin Tunnell Morris, Aaron Tunnell, Shannon Tunnell, Cameron Tunnell (and wife Shannon), Briana Gundermann (and husband Ben), Crystal Tunnell, Shea Tunnell, Heather Tunnell, Keely Tunnell and Taylor Malone. Great grandchildren: Makayla Tunnell, Olin Tunnell, Xander Tunnell and Lucian Tunnell.

Family will be receiving friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, September 17 ^th at DeBerry Funeral Home, 2025 University Dr. Denton, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a scholarship fund in Olin's name at https://www.braination.net/foundation

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 18 ^th at Faith United Methodist Church located at 6060 Teasley Lane, Denton, Texas.

Interment will be 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 19 ^th at Laurel Land Memorial Park Dallas.