Childs and Patricia Dunbar

Patricia Swaim Dunbar

June 19, 1928 — October 11, 2024

Patricia Swaim Dunbar, beloved wife of Childs Edwin Dunbar, Jr. for 73 years, joined Jesus and many loved ones in Heaven on October 11, 2024 at the age of 96. She peacefully passed away at her daughter’s home in Powder Springs, GA. Patricia, fondly known as Pat or Patsy, was born in New Orleans, LA to the late Frederick and Anna Swaim on June 19, 1928. She was preceded in death by her brother, Frederick Swaim Jr. (Mary Ann) and her son, Childs E. Dunbar, III (Mary Jo)., both of whom she dearly missed.

Patsy started her working career in New Orleans as a Bell South telephone operator. Once she married her loving husband, Childs, she became a homemaker and mother to her two children, Childs E. Dunbar, III and Jean Anne Dunbar Chambers. After her children were grown, Patsy became the secretary for her husband’s company, New Orleans Marine Services.

Patsy knew the importance of living for the Lord and, with her husband, she was a charter member of Aurora United Methodist Church in Algiers, Louisiana. She had a passion for helping others. Her service to the Algiers community included being a Sunday School teacher, a Girl Scout leader, a PTA volunteer, a hospital volunteer, and a member of the Propeller Club Women’s Organization.

Patsy was blessed with a kind and compassionate nature that touched all who had the joy of knowing her. She was a true southern lady who lived life with grace and love. She loved her daily walks at the Oakwood Mall with her friends, Mary Margaret Daigle and Mary Vidrine. As a big LSU Tiger fan, she and Childs could be found enthusiastically tailgating and attending the LSU home games. Patsy and Childs both loved being involved in Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, and they especially enjoyed attending the Krewe of Alla ball each year. She was a great cook of New Orleans cuisine and made delicious crawfish and shrimp etouffee. She loved mystery books, puzzles, Godiva chocolates, and treats from Haydel’s Bakery, all of which she would lovingly share with her grandchildren. Pasty’s love for God’s animals cannot go unmentioned, especially her love for dogs. She loved her pets as a protective mom would love her children.

Patsy looked for the good in everything and in everyone and was a genuine source of unconditional love. She treasured every gift she ever received because to her it was given with love. For Patsy, there was no greater gift than her family, to whom she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family was so precious to her. She is survived by her husband, Childs E. Dunbar, Jr, her daughter, Jean Anne Dunbar Chambers (David), her daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Dunbar Walker, five grandsons: Childs E. Dunbar, IV (Tia), Corey E. Dunbar (Ellen), Brian D. Chambers (Julie), Jeffrey M. Chambers (Meagan), and Christopher L. Chambers, as well as 10 great-grandchildren: Caden, Cale, Carter, and Ruby Dunbar, Cooper, Georgia Kate, and Tess Dunbar, Cami and Addi Chambers, and Jackson Chambers.

We are left with holes in our hearts, but we are so grateful that Patsy was blessed with a long and happy life, and that she shared her life with us.

Heartfelt thanks for the loving care of Patsy to her caregiver, Louvonia of Home Instead.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 10:30am to 2:30pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA followed by a graveside service at 2:30pm in Lake Lawn Park and Mausoleum. 5454 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70124

Childs Edwin Dunbar, Jr.

March 10, 1928 — November 1, 2025

Childs E Dunbar Jr, beloved husband, dad, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, joined Jesus and many loved ones in Heaven on November 1, 2025 at the age of 97. He peacefully passed away at his daughter's home in Powder Springs, Georgia. Childs was born in New Orleans, LA to the late Childs E Dunbar Sr and Mamie Arthur Dunbar on March 10, 1928. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 73 years, Patricia Swaim Dunbar, his three sisters, Merlyn Dunbar O'Niell (Herb), Bonnie Dunbar Bengston (Bob), June Dunbar Rosentreter (George), and his son, Childs E. Dunbar, III (Mary Jo)., all of whom he dearly loved and missed.

Childs grew up in what is fondly known as Old Algiers. He was an Eagle Scout as a young man , and later on a Scout leader and Council member. Childs was a veteran who served in the United States Army National Guard in Louisiana in the Signal Corp and in the Army Reserve. He attended LSU in Baton Rouge and as a result was a huge Tiger fan. He ran track for LSU and loved telling how running the hurdles is what resulted in the scares on his knee. In later years, he, along with his family and friends, could be found tailgating and attending LSU football games.

After leaving school, Childs started his career in the shipyard business. He worked in several New Orleans area shipyards including Avondale Shipyard, Gretna Machine, Hunt Shipyard, and his favorite, Algiers Iron Works. As he gained knowledge of his industry, he started his own companies Marine Vessels and New Orleans Marine Services as a Certified Marine Consultant and Surveyor - NAMS-CMS(which he continued well into his 80s). He loved his work and was known for his tireless work ethic.

Childs was a BIG man. Not in stature but in personality, in heart, in grace, in faith, and in love. He was a people person. His hobbies were people. Honor and character were very important to him and as a result, he did everything with honesty and integrity. He loved telling stories about the old days and was famous for getting sidetracked and off topic because he had so much to say and share with those he loved. People who worked with him have shared how he was always willing to mentor the younger folks in the marine industry and share his knowledge with them. He made people feel special and looked for the good in others. His neighbors weren't just people who lived close by, but friends that were a part of his life.

Childs loved the Lord and lived his life to reflect God's love to others. He and his wife, Patricia, were charter members of Aurora United Methodist Church in Algiers, Louisiana. They both had a passion for helping others know the Lord.

He lived his entire life on the Westbank of New Orleans and had such pride in his community. His service to the Algiers and Gretna community included membership and leadership in the Rotary Club of the Westbank, the Propeller Club, the Mark Twain Club, the Marine Club, and PTA officer. He took great pride in being a Mason and a Shriner. He loved being an Algiers Irish Rebel in the St Patrick's Day parade. He even ran for State Representative with his slogan being "Save Behrman High."

Childs and Patsy both loved being involved in Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, and they especially enjoyed attending the Krewe of Alla ball each year. Childs was a great cook of New Orleans cuisine and made delicious crawfish and shrimp etouffee. Childs, as did Patsy, loved their dogs. They weren't just pets, but members of the family.

Childs loved his family. and never missed an opportunity to let them know. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his daughter, Jean Anne Dunbar Chambers (David), his daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Dunbar Walker, five grandsons: Childs E. Dunbar, IV (Tia), Corey E. Dunbar (Ellen), Brian D. Chambers (Julie), Jeffrey M. Chambers (Meagan), and Christopher L. Chambers, as well as 10 great-grandchildren: Caden, Cale, Carter, and Ruby Dunbar, Cooper, Georgia Kate, and Tess Dunbar, Cami and Addi Chambers, and Jackson Chambers.

His family is comforted in thinking of the long and beautiful life he lived and their many memories of him. We ask that you remember him for the way he lived, and for the profound impact he had on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Heartfelt thanks for the loving care of Childs to his caregiver, Louvonia of Home Instead and the caring staff of Silver Comet Village Memory Care facility.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 10:30am to 2:30pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA followed by a graveside service at 2:30pm in Lake Lawn Park and Mausoleum. 5454 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70124