Dorothy Davenport Dunn

1921 - 2012

Dorothy

Davenport Dunn

Asheville - Dorothy Davenport Dunn left this life Monday, July 9, 2012, to be with her Lord.

Dorothy was born in Marion, NC on June 28, 1921. She was the daughter of Joseph Clayton and Sallie Houck Davenport. Her father died when she was two years old when wounded by poison gas in WWI. Her mother was remarried to Clyde E. Tuttle. Dorothy was also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph O'Brien Dunn, in 1992.

Dorothy was baptized at 12 years of age, and became a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Asheville. She was recognized by her church for her 75 plus years of membership in 2010. She taught Sunday School (Ruth, Lydia, and Dorcas classes) for 28 years.

She was president of the Naomi Schell Missionary Society. Dorothy was nominated, elected, and ordained as a deacon in 1993, and was honored in 2000 by being chosen as a life deacon.

Mrs. Dunn attended Lee H. Edwards High School (Asheville High), Biltmore Jr. College (UNCA), and graduated from the University of North Carolina. She lived and died as a "true blue Tar Heel".

Dorothy graduated from UNC in 1942. She first taught at Four Oaks High School near Chapel Hill. She was perhaps the first female to coach an all male varsity basketball team that first year. World War II had started, and there was a shortage of male teachers at that time. Her basketball team had a "good year" as she later recalled. She taught at Four Oaks for one year and then moved back home to Buncombe Co. where she taught and counseled for the next 35 years.

She received her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Western Carolina in 1967. She was the first guidance counselor at T.C. Roberson High School.

Mrs. Dunn (affectionately called "Maw Dunn") taught at Flat Creek, Valley Springs, and finished her career at T.C. Roberson High School.

She retired in 1983, but tried to stay in touch with her former students and enjoyed their successes. She cared deeply about her students, and was honored to have the guidance department at T.C. Roberson named after her.

Mrs. Dunn was honored in 1960 to become a member of Alpha Delta Kappa (an international organization for women educators). She was very active in both state and local levels of this organization. She served as State President of the North Carolina Alpha Epsilon Chapter and held numerous offices within the chapter. In 2010, she received the Golden Sister Award for 50 year membership and was chosen to the Hall of Fame Award in 2002.

Dorothy was also active in the Pilot Club, United Daughters of the Confederacy, NCAE, NCGA, and CTA.

Dorothy had many interests. She enjoyed flowers, music, cooking, and sports. She especially enjoyed Tar Heel basketball!! She also enjoyed painting, crafts, and travel. Following retirement, she joined the Lilian Carter Friendship Force and enjoyed trips to New Zealand, Brazil, and Argentina. She also traveled with the N.C. Center of International Understanding to Finland, Russia, and the Baltic Countries. She made trips on her own to Europe, The Holy Land, Mexico, Canada, Nova Scotia, Alaska, the Panama Canal, and Hawaii.

Dorothy is survived by two sons, Dr. Joe Dunn and his wife, Sandra Cooper Dunn, of Asheville, and Stanley Arthur (Mike) Dunn and his wife, Maxine Fore Dunn, of Westminster, SC. She was blessed by four grandchildren, Kristie Dunn Davidson and her husband, Brian, Brad C. Dunn, Michelle Dunn, and Michael Dunn and his wife, Jennifer. Dorothy also enjoyed seven great-grandchildren, Avery Dunn, Bryce, Bailee, and Brayden Davidson, and Cameron, Anneleise, and Ella Dunn.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Asheville, with the Revs. Eddie Morgan and Leah Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Marion, NC.

Her family will receive friends from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the church, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St., Asheville, NC 28801.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family, and the online register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.