James "Jimmy" Dunn

James Dunn, "Jimmy" passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Manhattan Beach home on Sunday, September 26, 2010 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 93. Jimmy was born in Iowa but grew up in Missouri. He served in the U.S. Navy as a transport pilot in the South Pacific during WWII. Jimmy came to California in 1950 as a captain for Western Airlines. In 1951, he married Western Airlines Stewardess Eva Coburn. They settled in Manhattan Beach where they raised their children, Mike and Michelle. Thirty years later, Jimmy would end his career as a DC-10 captain based in Honolulu. He and Eva continued to travel and live part time in Hawaii even after his retirement from Western Airlines in 1977. Jimmy was known at Western Airlines and around the South Bay as a funny, gregarious guy. He was a self-made success in his life, work and marriage, yet always maintained an easy-going persona - wearing old jeans and cowboy boots and driving around town in his Ford truck. Jimmy loved to fly, loved his years with Western Airlines and most of all, loved living with his family in California. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers and his wife of 56 years, Eva. He is survived by his two children, Mike and Michelle; brother-in-law, Lowell (Twila) Coburn; sister-in-law, Rosalie Coburn Wittman (Paul Wittman); daughter-in-law, Tris Dunn; and granddaughter, Jamie Dunn; as well as several beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be missed every day by his family and friends . . . we love you Dad! Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits. Please go to Rice Mortuary's website, www.LAfuneral.com to send the family messages, share memories, and to obtain service information and directions. Check back to view the online video tribute. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.