David Emil Kundis of Newport News passed away on June 29, 2025, at the age of 83. He was born in Hampton, Virginia, on March 21, 1942.
David retired from the Newport News Shipyard on January 1, 2000. He managed the Foundry and the Pattern Shop at the time of his retirement and had 39 years and 3 months of service. David started his career in the Foundry as an apprentice molder, for which he received the Neils Christiansen Craftsmanship award upon graduation. He went on to work in manufacturing and industrial engineering, production control, as well as a combined stint of 5 years in Sales and Marketing before returning to the Foundry as Cost Estimator. He was promoted to General Foreman, Superintendent, and finally Head of the Foundry Division. He served one term as president of the Shipyard May Club, was a past member of Pi Sigma Phi fraternity, and was recognized as a 50-year member of the Apprentice Alumni Association.
David received a certificate in Industrial Management and an Associate degree in Applied Science (management) from Thomas Nelson Community College, and, at the age of 50, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Leo College.
David was preceded in death by his father, Emil Joseph Kundis, and his mother, Evelyn Earl Adams. He is survived by his loving wife, of 61 years (1964), Bobbie Jean “Cookie”; daughter Tracy (Charlie), their daughters Samantha and Avery, and two great-grandchildren, Addison and Boden; son Brian (Molly), and their kids Reilly and Anna; son Jason (Paulette), and their kids Cameron and McKenna; sister-in-Law (bonus daughter) Sandra “Sis”, and her kids Maggie and Ethan; his two sisters, Laurie Bray and Carol Breeding; and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
David loved his family and always bragged about how close they all were. He felt family was everything.
The family will receive friends on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 5:00 -7:00 PM at the Peninsula Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the funeral home with interment to follow at Peninsula Memorial Park. Immediately following the funeral, the family will have a reception at the Warwick Yacht Club to celebrate Dave’s life!! All are welcome…
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
7 Comments
David will always be a man of statue that holds my utmost admiration! I always felt welcomed whenever we interacted over the years. My sincere sympathy goes out to his family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Dave was an incredible man, as one can see by his obituary. I feel honored to have known him and he always made me feel like family ❤️
So sorry about the loss of Dave Kundis. He was always very gracious and so happy with his loving family. He will bee missed.
Today there are only happy memories of the friendship and fun shared with Dave and Cookie over the years.
Words alone won’t fill the void left by Dave’s passing. His life will be remembered in the stories and photos he created and left for us to share in the telling and seeing over and over.
Our love to all the family, Ann and Tom G.
Tracy and family
I am so sorry for your loss. I have fond memories of your dad and mom and family. I think of yall often. I pray you find comfort in your memories.
So sorry for your loss! David was always special to my wife – Sherrill Mann- who often expressed that he had a piece of her heart. My love, and hers from heaven, to Cookie and all the family.
I will always have fond memories of David as a friend and the hunt trips he invited me to join. He was the first to welcome Brenda and I to the neighborhood when he show up unannounced with a cold 6-pack and sat down with us to enjoy. As a long time friend of Brendas I was introduced to him and his delightful family when we started going together. He will be missed