John Daniel J.D. Dunkley, Jr.

John Daniel "J.D." Dunkley, Jr., 82, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, in San Antonio after a valiant, multi-year fight from complications of dementia, progressive kidney failure, and diabetes.

J.D. was born on June 23, 1933 in Halifax, Virginia to John and Grace (Estes) Dunkley. He was the youngest of 5 children, surviving his siblings Thelma, Nancy, Moses and John E.

J.D. was an unapologetic lover of the South, who delighted in his visits to his beloved "Virginia plantation", working in his tobacco fields and visiting his extended family there. He was a collector of all things Confederate, making it easy for his children to always know what to buy daddy for his Christmas present.

J.D. enlisted in the armed services in January 1955, and while stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, he met his future wife, Mary Louise Ramirez. She was a dance instructor, and he convinced her that she needed to teach him how to dance. He never quite learned how to dance, but he did win her heart. After a whirlwind romance, they married in October, 1956. As a result, he knew Texas would be his new home. They enjoyed bowling and square dancing, and although J.D. would never be mistaken for Fred Astaire, he tried his best to keep up with the other dancers. He served in Korea and was stationed in Japan as a medic. He never spoke of his military service, yet he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and served honorably in the 101st Airborne, the 82nd Airborne, and the 23rd Infantry (Indian Head Division), achieving the final rank of Sergeant.

J.D. attended the University of Virginia, St. Mary's University in San Antonio, and Trinity University where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1960. He went on to have a career with the Internal Revenue Service, retiring in 1996 after 29 years of service.

J.D. is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou, daughters Denise Louise Mayfield, Terry Marie Timmerman, Sandra Ann Batlouni and her husband Fouad, son John Russell Dunkley and his wife Anne, 4 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and one great-granddaughter on-the-way. J.D. was preceded in death by his youngest son, Kenneth Daniel Dunkley in 2012.

Visitation will be from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Avenue on Tuesday, October 13. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. at Porter Loring on Wednesday, October 14, followed by a military funeral with honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. A reception will follow at Castle Hills First Baptist Church, where he was a member.