Sarah C. Dunn

Born Sarah Aldine Canan on July 12, 1925 in West Union, she was the daughter of the late Charles L. and Hannah Loughman Canan.

On September 2, 1949 she married James Jackson Dunn who preceded her en death on September 13, 2006. Together they raised four daughters, whom she named Amy, Beth, Jo, and Meg for the characters in Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women.

Except for her college years and a short time following her marriage, she had lived in West Union her entire life. There she attended grade school at the one-room schoolhouse in West Union, and graduated from Morris Township High School in Prosperity. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Waynesburg College, graduating in 1948, and began her teaching career as a high school English teacher in East Washington. She later attended California Teacher’s College to earn her elementary certification and taught at Amity Elementary before returning to teach English and Journalism at West Greene High School. At West Greene, she published the school newspaper, The Breeze, and in later years enjoyed writing a column for The Claysville Recorder where many fans followed the escapades of her fictitious character “Fancy”, which in truth, were based on some of her own experiences as well as those of family and friends.

Before teaching, she had worked in the offices of Jessop Steel Corporation with her father and had fond memories of riding to work with him.

She had been a member of West Union Presbyterian Church since the age of 9, serving as a Sunday school teacher, organist, deacon, and elder. Until the time of her death, she served as treasurer of the West Union Presbyterian Church and secretary/treasurer of the West Union Cemetery Association. She had also been the President of the Washington Presbytery Women’s Organization.

As long as her eyesight allowed, she enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. She also loved staying in touch with family and friends via her computer and in recent years had devoted time to updating her family genealogy on ancestry.com.

She is survived by her “Little Women”: twin daughters, Amy Sue Onder, wife of David Onder of North Huntington; and Beth Ann Clark of West Union; Sara Jo Shields, wife of Robert Shields of West Union; and Karen Meg Wilson, wife of Kevin Wilson of Rogersville. “Grandma Sarah” also leaves a legacy of 12 grandchildren: Christopher Clark, Rebecca Clark Stetser, Courtney Onder Wilbert, Ryan Onder, Jillian Onder Kreller, Clint Shields, Matthew Shields, Jessica Shields Hoopes, Craig Wilson, Katie Wilson Bennett, Jamie Wilson, and Chelsea Wilson: and 12 great-grandchildren: Christian, Justus, Sadie, Mara, Jonathon, Kaylee, Samuel, Finola, Ava, Emily, Josiah, and Hudson.

In addition to her parents and husband, a sister, Patricia Jane Davis, is deceased. The daughter of her sister, Tamara Davis Cox, who became like a daughter to her, survives. Also surviving are her sister-in law, Mona Lou Dunn, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Behm Funeral Homes Inc., 182 West High St., Waynesburg. Additional visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. the hour of services on Monday, June 13, 2011 at the West Union Presbyterian Church with Pastor George Crawford, Rev. Timothy C. Bennett and Katie Bennett officiating followed by burial in West Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the West Union Presbyterian Church, 122 West Union Station Road, Sycamore, PA 15364.