Dr. William Dunn
Dr. William Robert Dunn, Sr., age 92, of Cumming, GA passed away March 26, 2018. A Celebration of Life service was held April 2 at Cumming First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kathie Stasko and Dr. Bob Bowling officiating. Graveside services were held April 2 at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens.
Dr. William Robert Dunn, Sr. was born in Atlanta, GA and graduated from North Fulton High School and Davidson College, and then earned his medical degree in 1947 from Emory University. He wed Norma Kehr Dunn in June 1947. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage and raising a family together.
He spent two years in a surgery residency at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in the Korean War. He returned to Grady Hospital to complete his Pediatric Residency in 1954, and attended Columbia Seminary in Decatur, GA. He then traveled to Belgium to learn French to prepare for a tropical medicine residency. He spent three years as a medical missionary in the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1984, he returned to the Congo for another missionary tour.
Returning stateside, he set up a very popular family practice in Cumming, GA at the suggestion of Dr. Jim Mashburn. His medical practice was extremely busy and patients would often line up in his waiting room with sack lunches until he could attend to their needs. He always put his patients first. He managed to find time to perform physicals for the Boy Scouts and high school football teams. He was also very active with the Cumming Kiwanis Club.
Dr. Dunn also trained Physician Assistant students from Emory University. He remained active in his Emory Medical Class of 1947 reunions. He retired from practice in 2010, but spent another five years volunteering his medical services at the Good News Clinic in Gainesville, GA. He taught an adult Sunday school class and sang in the choir at Cumming First United Methodist Church. He was also active with Meals on Wheels, and working his cattle farm in Forsyth County. He loved his family and the Georgia Bulldogs.
A humble man, he quietly joined the Mashburn family in being a major donor in a land grant that helped preserve 932 acres on Sawnee Mountain and creating the Sawnee Nature Preserve. This has become a popular outdoor destination and the largest county park in the state of Georgia. It has over five miles of trails and mountain vistas.
He was a man of great passion, work ethic, character, compassion, modesty and skill.
Survivors include his children: Charlene (Terry) McGill, Bill (Melody) Dunn and Roger (Ruth) Dunn, all of Cumming, GA; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Dunn Roland of Gainesville, GA; his sister-in-law, Joanne Kehr of Iowa; his niece, Betty Grunwald; his nephews, Fred Grunwald and Bill Grunwald; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Kehr Dunn; his son, Richard K. Dunn; his daughter, Barbara Ann Dunn; his sister, Elizabeth Grunwald; and parents William and Clara Dunn.
The family asks that donations be made to Forsyth County Senior Services/ Meals on Wheels, 595 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040; Cumming First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028; or Season’s Hospice, 8013 Majors Road, Cumming, GA 30041.
Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory of Cumming, GA assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be shared at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.
