Clayton DUNN

1935 - 2026

Apr 3, 1935 - Mar 20, 2026

Clayton Dunn was born April 5, 1935, in Pullman, WA, to Lonnie and Patricia Dunn, and died on March 20, 2026, in Spokane, WA. He was the third of 8 children and graduated from Pullman H.S. in 1953, the University of Montana in 1958, and he earned his Master's degree at Washington State University in 1968.

As an ROTC graduate, he served eight years in the US Army between active duty and the Army National Guard, serving as Command of the Guard Company in Pullman, followed by Battalion staff (Major) in Spokane.

Public education was his life's work. While academics were the main focus, he was steadfast in his belief that student involvement in athletics/activities was a close second. He believed that co-curricular was a more apt term than extra-curricular. He was, personally, an active participant in athletics, and he became a teacher and coach at Naches and Colfax high schools. He then went on to serve as a building administrator at Mead and Medical Lake high schools, and he served as superintendent in the Medical Lake and Pullman school districts.

He served 14 years on the WIAA Executive Board and 2 years on the National Federation Executive Board. His primary goal was to ensure that athletics/activities were kept in proper perspective; it was a game, not a matter of life and death. He was engaged in the management of the State B Basketball tournament for more than 20 years, and he was grateful to have been inducted into the WIAA Hall of Fame and the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.

His greatest pride was in being husband to his wife and best friend, Linda, for just short of 66 years, who preceded him in death on June 15, 2022; as father to his sons, Michael and Greg; father-in-law to daughters-in-law, Teresa and Monica; grandfather to Chris (Amber), Aaron (Sydney), and Blake; and great-grandfather to Cameron and Addison. He believed that when the final whistle blew, family represented the greatest victory.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by sisters Mary Church and Gladys Breckenridge (Gary); sisters-in-law Sharon Malmquist, Donna Byus, and Linda Dunn; and 13 nieces and nephews. In addition to his beloved wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers (Bernard, Jim, Frank, Pat, and Vince), and four nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Clayton's life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 4:30 pm at the Talbott Event Center (4202 S. Regal St., Spokane). In lieu of flowers, a donation to a favorite team or activity at a high school of choice is suggested.