ROCHESTER - Randall H. "Munchkin" Furnivall, 57, of 1030 Elm St., Rochester, died at 3:54 a.m. May 7, 2009, in Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester.
He was born Dec. 31, 1951, in Rochester, to Donald H. and Naomi Jean Carpenter Furnivall. On Dec. 22, 1974, in Rochester, he married Kathy Sue Smith, who survives.
He was a 1972 Rochester High School graduate. Following his graduation from Rochester High School he attended the Elkhart Workshop for the Blind. Randy was recognized for his ability to motivate his classmates by common sense. His solid work ethic was also noted - as a hustler and the go-to man to get the job done.
Randy's life story begins on a unique note. He was born 3-1/2 months premature and weighed just 1 pound, 12 ounces. When he was allowed to come home, it was in a shoe box and he was so tiny that he slept in a dresser drawer. As a young man, he was a record-setting wrestler. Wrestling at 98 pounds, he was most valuable player and garnered the most points in three consecutive years. It was Randy and teammate Wayne Grube who were the first men of the mats to be inducted into the Letterman's Club.
Randy, known by his best friends as "Munchkin" proved that size doesn't matter. He accomplished many things in his life of 57 years and his influence was one of his greatest gifts, touching many lives.
As a 32-year member of the Fulton County Emergency Management Association, Randy currently was the communications chief. He also served the Fulton County CB Club as president and was a member of the Old Cross Roads Baptist Church, Gilead.
A collector of die cast cars of the 1950s-1970s, he loved the music of Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys. In the early years it was Randy who enjoyed the camaraderie of sharing the daily events at Hardee's over coffee. More recently the coffee guys enjoyed talking over the events of the day at Wendy's. Randy was always there in the thick of things.
Randy was a man of many talents. Early on in his career he worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Cedar Point Restaurant. He also was a dispatcher for the Rochester City Police Department.
Of supreme importance to Randy was his family.
Also surviving are a daughter, Janella Furnivall (and John Banter), Logansport, a son, Jason (and spouse Katheryn) Furnivall, Akron; four grandsons: Michael, Tyler and Kyle Banter, all of Logansport, and Lerris "Leaf" Furnivall, Akron; two dedicated brothers, Richard (and spouse Kathy) Furnivall and Ronald (and spouse Tina) Furnivall, all Rochester. He was preceded in death by a mother-in-law, Esther Smith, and a brother-in-law, Karl Smith.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester, with Rev. Thadd Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
Calling was from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and will be one hour prior to the service today at the funeral home.
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Memorials to the Fulton County Special Olympics Team, Omega Church, the Old Cross Roads Baptist Church, or the Indiana School for the Blind.
