Jason Patrick "Jay" Dunkelberger

Jason Patrick "Jay" Dunkelberger, age 28, of Odessa, DE, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Jason lived with an unmatched tenderness and humor that could be felt in every room he walked into. He touched countless lives with his generous spirit. He faced hardships that many never saw, but his legacy is one of love, compassion and deep devotion to his family and friends.
Born in Newark, DE, on October 10, 1996, he was the beloved son of Scott William Dunkelberger and Jessica Anne (Johnston) Brown. Jay was a proud graduate of St. Georges Technical High School and completed the Delaware Registered Apprenticeship Program, earning his Journeyman Certification as a Heating & Air Conditioning Mechanic. He found great fulfillment in his HVAC career.
Jay was a passionate Philadelphia Eagles fan, spending his Sundays cheering on the Birds. A true outdoorsman, he loved hunting and fishing. He was deeply committed to his community, serving with the Odessa Fire Company for ten years and actively participating in his neighborhood HOA. Jay had a gift for friendship-when you met him, you were instantly his "buddy." He was always the first to offer help to anyone in need. He was a kind, compassionate soul with an unforgettable sense of humor. His laugh was infectious, and Jay could keep everyone laughing with his inappropriate jokes and antics, bringing joy and light to even the darkest days to those around him.
Above all, Jay was a devoted husband, and the world's best, "Girl Dad". He loved his daughters, Kinsley and Kennedy with every fiber of his being. He showed them what true love is supposed to look like every day in the way that he cared for them and his wife, Paige. Because of him, they know what unconditional love is. He was also a beloved "Funcle", a loving son, brother and grandson.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Ashley Brown; father-in-law, Alan Thomas; maternal grandparents, Sandy and Johnny Johnston; and paternal grandfather, William Dunkelberger
Jay is survived by his cherished wife, Paige Taylor Moore; his daughters, Kinsley Jane and Kennedy Layne Dunkelberger; his parents, Jessica & William Brown and Scott & Jennifer Dunkelberger; and his siblings, Casey Dunkelberger (Nicole), Alexa Dunkelberger (Brittany), and Lilly Dunkelberger.
He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Trent Blankenbeckler, Bryden Blankenbeckler, Nicholas Thomas, and Landon Reese; sisters-in-law, Brianna Moore and Brielle Moore; mother- and father-in-law's, Debbie and Ronnie Blankenbeckler; Billy and Lea Moore; paternal grandparents, Wayne and Sherry Riale; grandparents, Ronald and Maryellen Brown; grandmother, Mary Ellen O'Neill; his many grandparent in-laws and endless number of loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE.
A Liturgy of the Word will begin at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 30, 2025, at St. Joseph Parish, 319 East Main Street, Middletown, DE.
Interment will follow in Old Drawyers Cemetery, 2839 Dupont Parkway, Middletown, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jay's memory to the educational fund mailed to the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union, 700 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947. C/O Kinsley & Kennedy Dunkelberger.