Paul Theodore Dunn Jr., age 94, of Knoxville, passed away on Dec. 19.
Mr. Dunn was born in Providence, R.I., on Feb. 19, 1929, and grew up during the Great Depression. Upon graduation from Westerly High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served his country from 1946-48. Upon his return from service, he took advantage of the GI Bill and graduated from Providence College.
Mr. Dunn went on to graduate from Catholic University of America Law School in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, he met Mary Agnes Kuster, and they were married on Sept. 8, 1956. They began their life together built on a strong faith that permeated their marriage and was passed down through four generations.
Mr. Dunn took a job with The Panama Canal Co. in the Canal Zone, where the Dunns’ first three children were born. In 1962, Mr. Dunn took a job with TVA in Knoxville, and thus began the Dunn family involvement with Holy Ghost Church, St. Joseph School, and Knoxville Catholic High School. He was a member of Holy Ghost since 1962, and was a founding member of Tennessee Right to Life. He spent countless hours advocating for unborn babies as well as a general respect for all human life.
In 1971, he purchased some acreage in Claiborne County that became known as “The Property.” It was a place where Mr. Dunn showed his children, grandchildren, and their friends the beauty of God’s creation. He also taught them the value of hard work, dependability, and problem solving with a little bit of fun thrown in. He was a man of wide interests, from beekeeping to being an avid reader in both English and Spanish to raising blueberries, and he was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. You may have a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary or a bluebird box in your yard that were crafted by his skilled hands.
His greatest joys in life were his faith and family. May he rest in peace!
Mr. Dunn was preceded in death by his parents, Paul T. Dunn Sr. and Ann O’Rourke Dunn; brothers John Dunn and Joseph Dunn; and a son, Paul T. Dunn III. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Kuster Dunn; children, Rita (Mark) Cook, Sarah Dunn, Bill (Stacy) Dunn, Frank (Christy) Dunn, David (Diannah) Dunn, Gina (Scott) Martin, Rebecca Bush, and Peter (Susannah) Dunn; 23 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Dunn was celebrated at Holy Ghost Church on Dec. 23, with Father Bill McNeeley serving as celebrant and Deacon Gordy Lowery assisting. Pallbearers were Bill Dunn, Frank Dunn, David Dunn Sr., Peter Dunn, Mark Cook, and Scott Martin. Interment was at Lynnhurst Cemetery.
Donations in Mr. Dunn’s memory may be made to Holy Ghost Church, 111 Hinton Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917; Tennessee Right to Life, P.O. Box 5218, Knoxville, TN 37928; or St. Joseph School, 1810 Howard Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918.
