Jasper "JW" W. Dunn III

Jasper W Dunn III passed away mid-day Tuesday December 31, 2024, at his home on Bull Run Drive in Apex, North Carolina. JW was born April 26, 1936, in Tyler, TX. He is the son of the late Jasper W. Dunn Jr., and Louise Harris Dunn.

During his early years, he moved from Tyler Texas to Memphis Tennessee, and Kingsport Tennessee, before moving to Jonesboro Arkansas where he graduated from High School in 1954. He played on the football and basketball teams and took part in many school plays. At graduation he was named Mr. Popularity. He joined the Navy ROTC and won a Navy scholarship to Vanderbilt University where he graduated in 1958 with degrees in Physics and Mathematics. He was also a member of the Vanderbilt varsity track team.

During his time with the Navy, he spent time on the USS Macon and USS Springfield during his tour of duty and visited many European destinations that would be on most people’s bucket list, courtesy of the US Navy. JW sailed up the Saint Lawrence River on the USS Macon during the Navy’s Operation Inland Seas operation which celebrated the official opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. He oversaw communications during his tour. He spoke of his time during his tour in the Navy more often as a vacation than an obligation. He continued his time in the Naval reserves attending weekly meetings and spending two weeks each summer on naval duty for the next 27 years.

After the Navy, he worked on research projects at Oak Ridge Tennessee, and later worked for Dupont Corporation in Newark Delaware. He moved to Raleigh North Carolina in 1963 and was employed as a programmer at the newly formed Research Triangle Institute located in Research Triangle Park, Durham North Carolina. At the same time, he took night courses to earn a master’s degree in applied mathematics at North Carolina State University.

He retired in 1997 after thirty years at RTI. During his retirement, he traveled extensively in the US including Alaska and Hawaii. He also traveled throughout Europe, South America, Mexico, and New Zealand. His favorite travel experiences were touring the towns and beautiful countryside of France and Italy and enjoying the architecture, scenery, food, and music of those regions.

Mr. Dunn is survived by his wife Ann Dunn of 38 years, sister Eliane Egbart of Reno Nevada, son David Dunn of Durham North Carolina, Christopher, and his wife Christine, and two grandchildren Sarah and Scott of Franklin Tennessee.

A Memorial Service was held at Raleigh Church of Christ, 911 Barringer Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 on Saturday January 11th. A Viewing was scheduled in the Mausoleum Chapel at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612. Following the Viewing, a graveside service was held in the military section at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Raleigh Church of Christ – Honduras ministry.

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