David C. Dunbar

1945 - 2022

David C. (Dave) Dunbar

LITTLE RIVER, SC. --- David C. Dunbar, age 76, of Little River, South Carolina, passed away peacefully while asleep Friday, June 10, 2022, following a lengthy illness.

Dave, to all who knew him, was born October 24, 1945, to parents Ozzie (Duane) and Josephine Dunbar in Olean, New York. On March 23, 1968, Dave married Margaret (Peg) Dunbar, who survives him.

Dave was a 1963 graduate of Portville Central School and 1967 graduate from SUNY, Fredonia State Teachers College. Dave continued and completed his Graduate degree education at both Fredonia and St. Bonaventure University and began his teaching career in 1967 at Ellicottville Central School, leaving there in 1970 to become the vocal music director at Portville Central School.

As a faculty member and coach at PCS, Dave coached both baseball and golf and was a director of the PCS Marching Band. He was choral conductor at St. Bonaventure University and Christ the King Seminary from 1969 until 1973. Dave was the recipient of the Alcas Corporation Southern Tier Area Teacher of the Year Award in 1994. In the early 80's Dave became the Choral Director for the Genesee Valley Chorus. Dave and Peg founded and directed/accompanied the Keynote Chorus based in Portville, NY, continuing for 17 years.

As a musical team with wife Peg, they produced and directed several musical productions at PCS. Continuing as a team, Dave and Peg were Assistant Head Chaperones for The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for nearly 900 students for 40 years. For 10 years, Dave and Peg, as choral conductor and accompanist, toured Europe with the Empire Tour of American Music Abroad. In 2015, they were jointly inducted into the Portville Central School Hall of Fame.

In 1983, Dave teamed up with his friend Chuck Wiser, as his lyricist, and wrote their first published musical choral arrangement "Silent Sounds". Over the next few years they had several more choral pieces published that have been performed worldwide by school and church choirs.

Dave's life was music and sharing that love of all things musical with others, throughout his life. He was a noted teacher, conductor, adjudicator, clinician. composer, and tenor soloist. He was an avid golfer and loved fishing and rooting for the Buffalo Sabres.

Dave is survived by his wife Peg, sons David D. (Cindy) Dunbar, and Kevin P. Dunbar, both of Little River, SC, sister Diana Dunbar, of Westons Mills, brother Andrew (Beth) Dunbar of Colorado Springs CO, 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Dave was predeceased, in addition to his parents, by a brother, Ronald Dunbar.

Family and friends are invited for a Celebration of Life to honor Dave's memory Saturday, October 15th at 1:00 PM, followed by a time to share his memories from 2 to 4 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Portville. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Portville Memorial Fund, or a church of the donors' choice.