Robert F. Dunning Sr.

Son of the late Col. Thurlow R. and Gertrude (Fransen) Dunning and the late Ethel Dunning, he was born in Brooklyn, NY but lived most of his life in Lynn. He was raised in the Wyoma section and was a graduate of Lynn English High School Class of 1938. At that time, he enlisted as a private in the Massachusetts National Guard in the 102nd Field Artillery of the 26th “Yankee” Division in the Salem Armory.

In January, 1941, his unit was activated into Federal Service at Camp Edwards, MA on Cape Cod. In 1942, he was elected to attend Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK, graduating in June as a 2nd Lieutenant of Field Artillery. He was assigned to the 346th Field Artillery Battalion of the 91st Infantry Division then being organized at Camp White, OR. After rigorous training, he went overseas as a Captain in March, 1944. His unit underwent amphibious training in North Africa was then sent to Italy where it fought on the Italian front until the German surrender. His unit then spent four months in combat readiness on the Italian-Yugoslav border to ensure that Marshal Tito did not try to annex by force the eastern part of the province of Venezia, including the major city of Trieste. Mr Dunning returned home in September of 1945, was separated from active duty in 1946, and retired from the Reserve as a Major in 1953.

Mr. Dunning was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, the Mediterranean Theater Ribbon with 3 battle stars, the American Defense Medal, the Trieste Occupation Medal, and then Military Valor Cross from the Italian Government.

Upon separation from the service, Mr. Dunning took advantage of the G.I. Bill and obtained a BS in Civil Engineering from Tufts College and an MS in Sanitary (Environmental) Engineering from Harvard Graduate Engineering School. During this period, he married his wife in 1947 and they bought a home across from the Gowdy Playground in upper Ward 1, where they lived, except for a period in Florida, until illness forced them both into Daniels House Nursing Home in Reading.

Mr. Dunning was a charter member of the Shoemaker Post, American Legion and his Division and Battalion Associations. He served on the Lynn Planning Board in the 1960’s and was a past president of the Shoemaker School PTA and the Lynn Woods Civic Association. He was also one of the original organizers of the 4th of July activities at the Gowdy Playground.

He was the author of a short history of life in the Wyoma section of Lynn from 1928 to 1933, which is on file with the Lynn Historical Society. A portion of this history has been published in the Society book, “No Race of Imitators.” Some of his writing were also published in the Veteran’s History Project, “Forever A Soldier.”

Mr. Dunning is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Michael Ahl of Reading and his son and daughter-in-law, Robert F. Jr. and Margo Dunning of Woburn; 2 sisters, Mrs. Harland (Carol) Storey of Cumberland, ME and Mrs. Harold (Alice) Lewis of Wilmington, NC. He was the grandfather of Ryan, Micaela, Anna and Ashley Ahl and April and Sally Dunning. He was the great grandfather of Justin R. Ford and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Mary Jane Krause, Jesse A. Dunning and Col. Thurlow R. Dunning, Jr.

Robert’s Funeral Service will be held in the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St. Lynn on Monday at 12PM. Relatives and friends invited. Burial will be private. Visiting Hours Sunday 1-3 & 5-7PM. Gifts in his memory may be sent to Daniels House Activities Fund, 59 Middlesex Ave, Reading, MA 01867.