Mr. Donald Anthony Dunbar, 83, passed away peacefully at his home on March 21, 2015. Donald was born August 4, 1931 in Binghamton, NY to the late Ernest and Gertrude Dunbar. He grew up in Binghamton and graduated from North High School in 1949. He married Mary Irene Gill, of Pleasant Mount, PA, on October 12, 1957. The two were residents of Binghamton from 1957 to 1965 before relocating to Durham, NC, where they became a part of the residential community of Parkwood. Mr. Dunbar was a veteran of the Korean conflict before being honorably discharged from the Marines in 1952. He went on to earn an Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Broome Community College in Binghamton, and his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. This education served him well in his 34-year career as a manager at IBM. Never one to rest on his laurels, after his retirement from IBM in 1990, he put his exceptional mathematical mind to work for ten more years as a Tax Preparation Specialist for H&R Block.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Irene Gill Dunbar; son, Robert Dunbar (Pam) of Chapel Hill; son, Daniel Dunbar (Amy) of Waxhaw; son, Richard Dunbar (Susan) of West Union, SC; daughter, Mary Dunbar (Ruth Vienneau) of Durham; son, Chris Dunbar (Joelette) of Cary; his brother, John Dunbar of Barrington, Ill; and his daughter-in-law, Rhonda Foshee of Raleigh. Donald Dunbar had ten grandchildren: Jonathan Dunbar (Lindsey Bosko-Dunbar), Jessica Dunbar (Mike Corinella), Laura Dunbar, Michael Dunbar, Allison Dunbar, Asa Dunbar, Travis Dunbar, Sarah Dunbar, Claire Vienneau, and Autumn Vienneau; and his beautiful great-grandson, Everett Daniel Dunbar.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Dunbar was preceded in death by his brother, Ernie Dunbar of Rochester, MN; his sisters-in-law, Kathryn Wilson Dunbar of Barrington, Ill and Jina Dunbar of Rochester, MN; and his brother-in-law, John Gill of Binghamton, NY.
Don Dunbar enjoyed running, playing golf, and traveling with family and friends. As a life-long member of the Catholic Church, Don grew up as a member St. John’s Catholic Church in Binghamton, joined Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Durham in 1965, and became a founding member of Holy Infant Catholic Church of Durham in 1970.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Infant Catholic Church in Durham, NC. The family will receive visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. preceding the mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 (www.transitionslifecare.org), or to Holy Infant Catholic Church, 5000 Southpark Drive, Durham, NC 27713 (www.holyinfantchurch.org). The Dunbar family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Home. Online condolences may be submitted at www.hallwynne.com. (Select Obituaries, then Durham)
Charlie Sheen & Family
March 24, 2015 at 11:22 amIt is with great sadness that we learned of Don’s passing. He will surely be missed by everyone who ever came in contact with him. Our friendship/memories go back to 1961 some 54 years ago..The heavens have gained another angel. Our hearts go out to each of his loved ones during this time of great sorrow.
Pat Tucker
March 24, 2015 at 1:43 pmDear Irene and Family….You have been such special friends over the years….many fun get-togethers and memories. My condolences to all of you as I know how much you will miss Don and his keen wit. Also think of him every Ash Wednesday! Much Love, PAT….
Arlene H. Harris
March 24, 2015 at 10:12 pmI was saddened to read of the passing of Don Dunbar. Both my late husband, James E. Harris, and I knew Don from IBM and knew him to be a great person. My condolences to the Dunbar family.
Arlene
Gary and Betty Ellen Hardy
March 25, 2015 at 7:45 amIrene and Family
Prayers for you all at this time.
Brenda Burnette
March 25, 2015 at 9:53 amI remember Don from the Durham Regent when him and Irene stayed there,I was their housekeeper. Don was a very nice and kind person. My condolences to the family.
Brenda Burnette
Pete & Ron DePersis
March 25, 2015 at 3:10 pmOur friendship and memories go back many years to the Southside of Binghamton. Many condolences to the Dunbar Family. Pete and Ron.
Sharon Stingley
March 25, 2015 at 4:41 pmI am sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. May He watch over and help you through this time of sadness.
Sharon Stingley (a friend and colleague of Pam Dunbar)
Bob & Barb O'Hara
March 26, 2015 at 12:11 pmMy condolence’s to you and your family. I was very young when Don & Mary lived in NY, so I don’t remember very much, only the nice things my mother Esther O’Hara had to say about Donny and Ernie. As a young boy I used to mow my aunt Annie Dunbar’s lawn and she would feed me the best cookies and milk a kid could want. I have good memories of that house on Tremont Ave. Once again I am very sorry for your loss.
Elwood and Joanne Massey
March 26, 2015 at 1:31 pmIrene and Family:
We wish to express our deepest sympathy in the loss of your husband and father. Don was such a wonderful person. He was one who could find humor in most anything and he could always make us laugh even when he was looking so serious with such a straight face. He also was a wonderful father-in-law to our daughter Amy and a great PopPop to the grandchildren that we share. The memories of him will stay with us. My God bless all of you and give you comfort in the days ahead.
Elwood and Joanne Massey
Paula Johnson
March 26, 2015 at 4:17 pmOn behalf of your work Family at PRA Health Sciences we send our thoughts and prayers, deepest condolences to Rob Dunbar and his family during this time.
Sharrah Jenkins Trammell and family
March 27, 2015 at 10:02 amOur condolences to you, the Dunbar family. Chris, our thoughts and prayers are of you all at this time.
Paulette and Phil Furman
March 27, 2015 at 10:14 amDear Irene and all the families,
We are so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We have such wonderful memories of our CYO days and all the fun of gatherings at your home. We hope you know you are in our thoughts and prayers as we all grieve but also remember with joy the great, funny, compassionate man that Don was to all.
Love and remembrance,
Paulette and Phil
The Carre Family
March 28, 2015 at 8:14 amDear Mary, Ruth, Claire, Autumn,
Our hearts are with you today. May peaceful energy to surround you.
And to the Dunbar family; Our most sincere condolences to you all.
John and Libby Walsh
March 29, 2015 at 4:19 pmDon was a good man that we were blessed to have known. He may not be here physically, but he lives in the generations that follow!
Peace be with you, Irene, and all the family.
love and hugs,
John and Libby Walsh
Laura Bonti Guffey
March 30, 2015 at 8:42 pmPlease know that the Bonti daughters hold you in prayer. While all of us would have liked to be there on Saturday, Joan and I certainly appreciated the memories shared in the photo montage. A donation has been made to hospice in “DD’s” name.
Laura Guffey, Elaine Roth, Linda Stauffer, and Joan Bonti