Robert Edwin Dunn

Long-Time Ashland Native Passes
Robert Edwin Dunn

Robert Edwin Dunn of Green Valley, Ariz., formerly of Ashland, Ore. passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 83 years of age. Bob was born on December 19, 1922 to George Dunn and Nelle Peachy Dunn in Ashland. He is descended from pioneer settlers Patrick Dunn and Mary Hill Dunn who were married in 1854 and settled on the Dunn land claim south of Ashland. Bob was a 3rd generation native of Ashland and the grandson of George W. Dunn who served as an Oregon senator for 28 years. Bob's birthplace, the original Dunn Ranch, still stands at Neil Creek on Highway 66.

Bob attended Bellevue School and Ashland High School where he played basketball, graduating in 1942, before attending Oregon State College. Bob was an industrious man who worked his family farm, worked on the AlCan Highway, for the Oregon Forest Service, and for Busch Ford in Ashland. He worked for 25 years in the airline industry beginning with West Coast Airlines which later became Southwest Airlines, Hughes Airwest, Republic, and retiring in Tucson with Northwest Airlines.

Bob married the former Dona Frazier in 1946 and they had four children. Dona passed away in 1957. In 1967, he married May Antonucci Schwiebert who had four daughters, and they combined for a family of eight children.

He was preceded in death by George and Nelle Dunn, Roy and Mildred Frazier, Steve and Frances Antonucci, sisters, Betty Dunn McCaan and Helen Dunn Rankin, Bob Frazier, Blair Antonucci, Betty Clupny, and Patricia Wells.

He is survived by his wife, May who resides in Green Valley, Ariz.: two sons, Mike Dunn of Wickes, Ark., James Dunn of Plano, Tex.; six daughters, Gay Schwiebert Ross of Sahuarita, Ariz., Martha Schwiebert Crawford of Green Valley, Ariz., Betty Schwiebert Stocks of Tucson, Ariz., Susan Dunn Tinniswood of Klamath Falls, Ore., Anne Schwiebert Dickerson of Medford, Ore., and Sally Dunn Ogren of Ashland, Ore. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bob was an active life-time member of the Ashland B.P.O.E. from the age of 21, where he bartended, worked at fund-raising events, marched in 4th of July parades, and helped in many events which benefited his community. He was also a member of the Kiwanis, Masons, J.C.'s, the Ashland Grange, Ashland Boosters, Good Sams, and Thousand Trails. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ashland Elks.

Some of Bob's favorite things were his family, Sunday drives to the coast on old logging roads, telling wild stories to his children, gardening, dancing to Big Band music and the jitterbug, and 20 years traveling with his wife May in their motorhome. Friends remember his as a fine man, hard-working, caring, and fun. He will be greatly missed by all of us!

A memorial "Celebration of Bob Dunn's Life" will be held Monday, July 3rd at 1 p.m. at the Ashland Elks when his family will all be in town. Please join his family for this celebration.