Melvel F Dunn

DUNN, Melvel F. went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 6, 2011 after 84 years of wonderful ministry and life. “Well Done, Mel Dunn,” as he was widely known was born in Detroit, MI and served in the Navy during World War II and the U.S. Marine Corps (1st Marine Division) during the Korean War. Mel married his sweetheart, Betty Barr in Detroit in 1950 and ministered through several capacities at Temple Baptist Church where his father served as associate pastor. He was employed by AT&T in various assignments including the introduction of the Holidex Reservation system for Holiday Inns. After 17 years with AT&T he joined Genesco, Inc., in Nashville and formed the Telecommunications Department, retiring in 1992 as Director of Communications after 27 years of highly dedicated service. Mel founded the Tennessee Telecommunication Users Assoc. (TTUA), and was one of the founders of the Southeastern Telecommunications Assoc. (SETA). He also served as Administrator of the Tennessee Nortel Networks Meridian Users Assoc. (TNNMUA). Most of all, Mel honored his Lord Jesus Christ as an amazing, humble servant, always seeking ways to love and help other people. He established one of the first Young Married Couples classes in the Southern Baptist Convention during his many years of worship at Park Avenue Baptist Church, Nashville (Bob Mowery, Pastor). He most recently was an active member of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, (David Landrith, Pastor). Mel knew no strangers and never missed an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with anyone he met. One of his greatest passions was poetry, as he wrote several small books of poems in which he gave to thousands of people over the years for encouragement and support. He lived a life that truly modeled his signature scripture, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” A celebration service of his life will be held at Long Hollow Baptist Church, 3031 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN 37075 on Sunday, February 13 at 6pm. In lieu of flowers, Mel requested his friends and family make a donation in his memory to the Long Hollow Benevolence Fund (checks sent to address above). Mel was preceded in death by his wife Janet Elizabeth Barr Dunn (Betty) and is survived by sons Ron Dunn and Brian Dunn; Brian’s wife Kim Dunn; grandchildren, Megan Dunn and Jordan Dunn; brother Gerry Dunn; and sister Doris Dash. Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Nashville, TN.