Eddie Demonn Dunagan

Eddie D. Dunagan, 88, passed away May 27, 2020 in Austin, Texas after a twenty-two year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Coy Dunagan; Sister, Bonnie Dunagan Burkett and husband, Lester of Tyler, Texas; Son, Ronald Dunagan and wife, Sheila of Malakoff, Texas; Son, Richard Dunagan and wife, Jennifer of Austin, Texas; Son, Robert Dunagan and wife, Rhonda of Leander, Texas; Son, Roger Dunagan and wife, Dana of Kerrville, Texas; fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, Dell Dunagan; mother, Christine Dunagan; brother, Randall Dunagan and daughter-in-law Diane Dunagan.

Ed was born January 20, 1932 in Gilmer, Texas to Dell Owen Dunagan and Christine Hurt Dunagan of Gladewater, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Texas in 1953 and a Masters Degree in Business from George Washington University in 1969.

Ed was sworn in as an officer in the United States Air Force in 1953 and began pilot training. While on assignment at Larson AFB in Moses Lake, Washington, Eddie met Virginia Coy. The two were married April 19, 1957.

Ed was a pilot in the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command, that operated U-2 spy planes out of Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas and Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This unit was instrumental in providing reconnaissance photos of the island of Cuba for President John F. Kennedy during the historic Cuban missile crisis in 1962. For his participation Ed earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also served as an A-37 pilot in Viet-Nam. Ed retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1979.

After retiring from the Air Force Ed started a new career as a financial advisor with several stock brokerages, beginning with E.F. Hutton and concluding with Smith Barney. He also was a partner in a road construction company, Triple R Contracting with his youngest son, Roger Dunagan.

Ed’s passion throughout his life was his Christian faith. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Del Rio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Prattville, Alabama; Honolulu Hawaii; and finally in Austin, Texas at the Westover Hills Church of Christ. His struggle with Parkinson’s disease did not keep him from attending worship service with his Christian family.

A celebration of life will be had at the Westover Hills Church of Christ on Saturday, June 13th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. The family requests donations to World Bible School in lieu of flowers.

Due to concerns over Covid 19, for those who would prefer to attend the service via livestream the following link has been provided courtesy of Westover Hills Church of Christ: https://www.facebook.com/westoverhillschurch/