"I want to say how thankful I am for Dr.Dunn. As an infant my Mother told me it was because of him treating me properly. He knew I wasn't getting enough of nutrition, I couldn't keep nothing on my stomach. You will be sorely missed. I know your in a better place now,with no sickness to have to think about.Debra Barnes"
In loving memory of
Dr. William Robert Dunn Sr.
April 23, 1925 - March 26, 2018
Dr. William Robert Dunn, Sr. age 92 of Cumming, Georgia, passed away Monday, March 26, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Kehr Dunn; son, Richard K. Dunn; daughter, Barbara Ann Dunn; sister, Elizabeth Grunwald; parents, William and Clara Dunn.
Dr. William Robert Dunn, Sr. was born in Atlanta and graduated from North Fulton High School, Davidson College, and earned his medical degree in 1947 from Emory University. He wed Norma Kehr Dunn in June 1947. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage and raising a family together.
He spent 2 years in a surgery residency at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in the Korean War. He returned to Grady Hospital to complete his Pediatric Residency in 1954, and attended Columbia Seminary in Decatur. He then traveled to Belgium to learn French to prepare for a tropical medicine residency. He spent 3 years as a medical missionary in the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Three decades later in 1984, he returned to the Congo for another missionary tour.
Returning stateside, he set up a very popular family practice in Cumming, Georgia at the suggestion of Dr. Jim Mashburn. His medical practice was extremely busy and patients would often line up in his waiting room with sack lunches until he could attend to their needs.
He always put his patients first. He managed to find time to perform physicals for the Boy Scouts and high school football teams. He was also very active with the Cumming Kiwanis Club.
He also trained Physician Assistant students from Emory University. He remained active in his Emory Medical Class of 47 reunions.
He retired from practice in 2010, but spent another 5 years volunteering his medical services at the Good News Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia. He taught an adult Sunday school class and sang in the choir at Cumming First United Methodist Church. He was also active with Meals on Wheels, and working his cattle farm in Forsyth County. He loved his family and the Georgia Bulldogs.
A humble man, he quietly joined the Mashburn family in being a major donor in a land grant that helped preserve 932 acres on Sawnee Mountain and creating the Sawnee Nature Preserve. This has become a popular outdoor destination and the largest county park in the state of Georgia. It has over 5 miles of trails and mountain vistas.
He was a man of great passion, work ethic, character, compassion, modesty, and skill.
Survivors include his children, Charlene (Terry) McGill of Cumming, Bill (Melody) Dunn of Cumming, Roger (Ruth) Dunn of Cumming; daughter-in-law, Barbara Dunn Roland of Gainesville; sister-in-law, Joanne Kehr of Iowa; niece, Betty Grunwald; nephews, Fred Grunwald, Bill Grunwald; 10 grandchildren; 6great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm at Cumming First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kathie Stasko and Dr. Bob Bowling officiating followed by a Reception in the Family Life Center.
The family will receive friends at Ingram Funeral Home on Thursday, March 29th from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Friday, March 30th from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, April 2nd at 11:00 am at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to Forsyth County Senior Services/ Meals on Wheels, 595 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040, Cumming First United Methodist Church, P O Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028 or Seasons Hospice, 8013 Majors Road, Cumming, GA 30041.
Ingram Funeral Home Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.
Tributes
"I will miss seeing your smiling face at Church. You never failed to ask how Mom and I were doing. I met you first as my caring physician when we first moved to Cimming. You set a great example, and will be missed."
"This man will really be missed!!!! Don't know what we'd have done without him, and just seeing him around town will be lonesome without him, Linda Satterfield"
"What a great man of God. I had the privilege to be in many Bible studies with him. He will be missed. Blessings to the family."
"Dr. Dunn was my pediatrician and was the one who diagnosed me with a heart murmur at age 3 months. He saved my life and I cannot imagine living the life I have had without his love and support. This world has lost an amazing man...Heaven gained one. You will be greatly missed Dr. Dunn! My prayers and thoughts are with the Dunn family and may you all have some comfort during this difficult time."
"Dr. Dunn was our baby Dr. He delivered my 2 brothers and my sister. He was sweet , but too the point. He will be missed."
"56+ years ago Dr. Dunn delivered me at the old hospital in Cumming and he was my doctor during my youth. A great man with a great heart. You knew that he genuinely cared for you and wasnt in it for the money. Good memories."
"When I was in medical school I was fortunate enough to rotate with Dr. Dunn at his clinic. He was a great teacher and I learned a lot from him about medicine and was always happy to see his smiling face when I would bump into him at various meetings. While I am saddened at his passing I realize how blessed I was in knowing him. Rest in peace my friend."
"I did not know Dr. Dunn, but I heard much about him from his mother, Clara, who quite doted on him. Clara was my mother's age, but we were BFFs and I still miss her. Charlene, I met you on her porch and wish to extend to you and all the Dunns my sympathy on your loss. His memory will be treasured for generations"
"Rest in peace Dr. Dunn you will be missed here on earth .sending Love to your family .from Ricky and Pat Connell"
"I would see Dr. Dunn on the days I volunteered to do Meals on Wheels.What a trooper!!!! Rest in peace!!!"
"Danny WheelerWe lived in Dr. Dunns' 'old' house around 1965-1966. Some of my favorite memories are playing with Billy, Ricky, and Roger. I consider them brothers although (my fault) I have not kept in touch. I actually worked with Dr. Dunn in the late 70's when I was in Respiratory Therapy - he had inspired me to get in to the medical field. The entire Dunn family was wonderful to our family. THANK YOU!"
"Dr. Dunn was my pediatrician. I was terrified of him as a child. When I grew up and became a nurse, I told him about being so terrified of him. He laughed and took me under his wing, wanting to teach me things. I quickly grew to love and admire him. Rest in peace gentle soul. You will be missed. Angela Barron"
" Sorry to hear about the passing of your loved one, (Dr. Dunn). He was a great man, and will be missed by alot of family and friends!! Keeping the family in Our Thoughts and Prayers!! REST IN PEACE!!"
""In Loving Memory of Dr. William Robert Dunn, M.D.". (April 23, 1925 - March 26, 2018). (Age 92). I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my (lifetime) doctor, and also, my dear friend, Dr. W.R. Dunn, M.D., whom was loved by all of those, who knew him, he will be greatly missed, and he will never be forgotten! Rest in peace, Dr. Dunn! Thanks for being a great doctor to me, all of these years, and decades, and thanks for being a great friend, (and confidant), to me, as well, for just as long! With my most sincere regards, and sympathy, to your family, and friends, as well as your neighbors, alike. "Go rest high, on that mountain", and I will see you again one day, after a while, in Heaven! I know that you are with our Lord, and are among the Angels, singing, and shouting, and are watching over us all! I loved you, dearly, my friend, and you were always a true friend, to me, and you were always there, to listen, when I needed to talk about things! Thanks for everything that you have done for me, over the years, and for being a part of my life! I am grateful to have known you, and to have you as a friend, for all of these years! Sincerely, Mary Cothran."
"Rest in peace, Dr. Dunn! I am saddened to hear about your passing, and I am going to truly miss you! I no longer have a doctor, anymore! You were a true friend, and a great person! May your spirit soar high above the clouds, like an Eagle, and walk with the Angels! I can hear you singing, and shouting, in Heaven, and I know that you are with the Lord! God Bless your family, and loved ones, and may He comfort them, and help them all get through this difficult time! Sincerely, your patient, and your friend, Mary Cothran."
"I am sending my deepest condolences, and my most sincere regards, and sympathy to the family, friends, and loved ones, of Dr. William Robert Dunn, M.D., and I am praying for God's healing touch, and for His Amazing Grace, on the family, and I pray that He will help you all get through this difficult time, and may He give you the strength that you need, to get you through it! I thought the world of Dr. Dunn, and I will miss him terribly! He will never be forgotten! R.I.P.! And may God Bless his family, and friends, and loved ones! Sincerely, Mary Cothran."
"So very true! He didn't care about the money, you are right about that! My brother Roger died, at the young age of 36, and Dr. Dunn stayed with me, and my/(our) mama, at the hospital for a long time, and he took care of my brother, (doctored him), and after his passing, my/(our) mama tried to pay Dr. Dunn, for his services, and he refused to take the money! He said to mama, that, "his conscious wouldn't let him take it"! Yet, he done nothing wrong, whatsoever! He saved my brother's life, a year earlier, when he almost died, Dr. Dunn pulled him through, the first time, my brother spent eight (8) days in the hospital, and survived! Then about a year later, he didn't make it but about 24 hours, however, Dr. Dunn had done everything that he could do, in order to save him! What he meant by his statement that he made, saying that "his conscious wouldn't allow him to take the money", was not about feeling guilty, as if he felt like that he had failed, in saving his life, rather, but what he meant was, that he didn't want, or need, the money! That it wasn't about the money! How wonderful of a person, and how humble of him, although my mama could afford to pay for my brother's care, he simply wouldn't accept payment!"
"I know Dr. Dunn will be richly rewarded in heaven for all he has done here on earth. There was no one as kind, caring, and giving as he was all his life. Thanks to his family for sharing him with so many others. It was my honor to have worked with him and share the joy he brought to so many. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as they grieve the loss of such a wonderful person and doctor. It will leave a void that cannot be filled. Rest in peace Dr. Dunn, you earned it.Deborah Entrekin Whitehair, M.S., PA-C, DFAAPA"
"You will be Highly missed Dr. Dunn. Rest easy now. Your family and friends are in my thoughts. Thank you for all you did!"
"My brother, Jimmy Avery, was in the hospital with meningitis when he was 6 or 7 years old. Dr. Dunn would show anytime day or night. Predawn in waders, noon with lunch in his pocket, etc. Didn't matter. If you were his patient, he was there for you."
"Dr. Dunn was a remarkable man and a great physician. My whole family went to him for care from the time he opened his office. He was my sons physician as well. Rest In Peace dear man, you certainly earned your wings."
"Thank you Dr.Dunn for your great services to our community ! You were a great man and the most kind Dr.You will be missed by all !"
"Dr. Dunn gave so much to the community. He was my doctor from the time I was born until he retired from practice. He was truly a wonderful person and the love of Jesus shined in his eyes. I will always remember him and thank God that he also got the chance to give my daughter her first pediatric evaluation before he retired. Thank you to his family for sharing him with the entire community for so many years. May our God guide you in this time of sorrow and knowing that Dr. Dunn is now with the greatest physician of them all. I know the Lord patted him on the back as he entered those gates and told him "well done, faithful servant"."
"In the early 1970's us kids at the old Cumming Elementary School never minded getting sick! We got to see good Dr. Dunn and the aquarium in his waiting room. I always remember friends coming in to class late, all happy because they got to see Dr. Dunn. He made childhood a happier time. He was the best."
"Dr. Dunn is an icon to the community. He was my Dr. when I was a child, my son's doctor. He was my Grandmother's doctor when she passed at 92.He was everyone's Doctor! What a good man. I drive by his property everyday going to work. I have even helped Roger rustle up an escaped cow or 2 over the years. This family has always meant so much to me. I will never forget Dr, Dunn."
"My sincerest sympathies to the Dunn and extended families on the loss of a truly great man. I fondly remember the high regard everyone had for him when I lived in Cumming in the late 1960s. When we were sick he was the go to guy and he never failed to make us feel better with his cheerful demeanor and professional attitude. I hope his students continue his best qualities."
"dr. dunn he was my doctor when I was a little kid thk u dr dunn prayers to the family"
"Bill, Melody, Will and the rest of the Dunn Family. So sorry for the loss of a Good man and Doctor who saw Tyler since birth for years. He was always there to show his care and love for his patients. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. R.I.P. Dr. Dunn. No matter where you saw him he was always smiling.You certainly earned your angel wings."
"Rest In Peace dr.dunn"
"May you rest in peace Dr. Dunn. I would not be here if it wasn't for you. Thank you for helping Dr. Mize bring me into this world. Sending prayers for the family."
"Dr.Dunn would never turn anyone in need,away. Took care of me on a Sunday when I got chemicals in my eye. I had no insurance. He only charged $25. Such a wonderful, caring man. I miss him so much. God be with you and with your grieving family, dear Dr. Dunn."
"May you rest in peace. such a wonderful doctor and a great person"
"Rest In Peace Dr Dunn"
"A Spathiphyllum was ordered on March 27, 2018"