Dewitt Clinton Dunn III, proud native son of Texas, passed away peacefully on Saturday February 10, 2024 at the VA Hospital in Houston. Born in Beaumont, Texas on January 22, 1948, Dewitt was raised in Houston by his parents Dewitt C Dunn Jr and Mary Landry Dunn, both deceased. He was the pampered younger brother of the sisters he loved dearly, Ann Dunn (deceased) and Elizabeth Dunn Zientek who resides in California with husband Steve, a great friend of Dewitt's. He attended St Anne Catholic School and was a graduate of St Thomas High School, both in Houston.
Dewitt was drafted into the Army in 1969. Like so many young men of that era, this was not what he had planned for his life, but once called, he served proudly and received many commendations for his service in the Infantry in Viet Nam. He returned to Houston after his discharge and lived there happily for decades. Dewitt had a green thumb (a family talent) and owned a lawn maintenance company for many years.
He worked for a few years in New Jersey, then returned to his much loved home state, living in Galveston in the early 90s where he raised his beloved son "Bubba", Dewitt C Dunn IV. Once Bubba was in college, Dewitt moved to his lake house in Willis, previously owned by Ann and the site of years of happy family gatherings. After his health declined in the fall of 2022, Dewitt was welcomed into the home of Bubba and his young family in Baytown. His daughter in law Dulce was such an amazing caregiver, and granddaughter Isabella Grace made him smile every day. Dewitt was overjoyed when his grandson Dewitt C Dunn V (nicknamed Cinco) was born in December of 2022. He was the proud Uncle to four beautiful nieces - Harriet Kelly, JoBeth Williams (deceased), Lara Colvert and Jo Zientek (husband Frank Harrington) and Great Uncle to five. Each of them has special memories of their time with Uncle and each held a unique place in his heart.
Dewitt had a special bond with Scott Michael Nordstrom, who he helped raise. He watched proudly as Scott too graduated from St Thomas High School in 1988. He was a father figure to Maeggan Walter, Bubba's older sister, walking her down the aisle at her wedding in 2019. A lifelong bachelor, Dewitt maintained strong friendships with the women who passed through his life and could often be found visiting them and their families throughout the years. Once he was your friend, he was there for life.
Dewitt , aka Bubba, Uncle Bubba, Uncle Sunshine or Shine, was a charismatic man who never met a stranger. He was a devoted father and a loyal friend. He was born into a family that loved a good party. His sense of adventure was legendary, and his wanderlust took him around the world many times over. He was a Southern Gentleman of the highest order, unfailingly polite, well read and the master of a good story. He was equally at home on a beach in flip flops or at a black tie affair. He never crossed a friend's threshold without bearing gifts, most often a bottle of Mums champagne, his mother's favorite. He didn't like paper napkins and drank his Heineken from a bottle, never a can. He never turned down a well made bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich (always made with Durkees), loved good cheese, beautiful avocados, and Rice University Football. He still listened to football games on his radio, as he had done as a young boy with his father. St Patrick's Day was second only to Texas Independence Day as his favorite day each year. He was truly one of a kind and will be missed by so many.
A Graveside Committal Service with a Military Honor Guard will be held on Saturday, February 24th at 1 p.m. at Shephard Hill Cemetery, 11249 Shepard Hill Rd in Willis. Guests may bring a small token or note to be placed in his passport pouch to accompany Dewitt on his final journey. An Irish Celebration of Life will follow at the Conroe home of his lifelong friends Kris Nordstrom McBride and Michael McBride. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Montgomery County Veteran's Memorial Park, where Dewitt will be honored. The mailing address is P O Box 1296, Conroe, TX 77305. Please include Dewitt's name as the honoree.
