Charles Kenneth Dunn

Charles Kenneth Dunn; husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, adored uncle, steadfast friend, yellow-dog Democrat; passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2007 after a valiant year-long battle with cancer. Cancer won that battle, although it was one of the few battles our father lost during his long, colorful life. Born July 14, 1920, in Monroe City, Missouri, to Charles F. and Leora Dunn, Charles (Chuck), grew up in the small town of Perry, Missouri, where he graduated from high school and met his bride-to-be, Virginia Hopkins. After high school, his family including his younger brother, Jack and sister, Betty, moved to Louisiana, Missouri, where his father served as Sheriff for 30 years. On March 16, 1940, Chuck married Virginia Hopkins with whom he celebrated 67 years of marriage earlier this year. He served in the Army Air Force during WWII, as a Navigator/Bombardier, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant; and became an Operations Officer in the European Theatre. He finished his military career having earned multiple campaign ribbons. After moving to various military bases with her husband, his lovely and uncomplaining wife, Virginia, “recommended” they settle back in Missouri where he joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol with whom he served for ten years as a State Trooper and as commander of the local national guard unit. He and Virginia became the proud parents of two daughters, Merrie and Candice—and being a family man and father became the most important part of his life (although being a Democrat, raconteur, and avid reader, figured in fairly prominently, too). He joined Farm Bureau and then General Adjustment Bureau, and his uncomplaining wife and sometimes complaining daughters followed him as he was transferred to various cities and states, up the corporate ladder and eventually to Austin. He retired as head of the Workmens Compensation Division of General Adjustment Bureau in 1985 and became a full-time husband, father, father-in-law, grandparent, great-grandparent and father figure to a variety of nieces, nephews, and other young people. Charles K. Dunn is survived by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Hopkins Dunn; daughters Merrie Shumer and husband Richard and their children Robin Shumer and Erin Tite and husband Andy, and great-grandchildren Taylor Shumer and Zoe Roland; and daughter Candice House and husband Randy and their children Joshua and Zachary House. He is also survived by his brother and sister, Jack Dunn and Betty Hirsch and dozens of nieces and nephews who have always believed, and rightly so, their “Uncle Chuck” hung the moon. A “celebration of life” service will be held at 3pm, Saturday, June 23rd at Weed-Corley-Fish, 3125 N. Lamar. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice Austin and Hospice Austin’s Christopher House whose wonderful staff helped make his last weeks comfortable and his family comforted. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com