Lewis Franklin Dunn died peacefully at Pender Skilled Nursing on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

95 years of age, he was born in northwest Mecklenburg County on December 1, 1923 to Robert Franklin Dunn and wife Sara Estelle Alexander. The youngest of 7 children, he is preceded by his sister Mary Dunn Kearns & husband Tom of Pleasant Garden, NC and 5 brothers: Thomas Jefferson Dunn & wife Alice of Charlotte, Crosby Alexander Dunn & wife Thelma of Charlotte, Jackson Freeman Dunn & wife Nell of Sylva, Joseph Blevins Dunn & wife Sarah of Greensboro and Maurice Beaty Dunn & wife Phoebe of Charlotte.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 70 years Eleanor May Johnson Dunn of Charlotte, now living in Burgaw, NC and 3 children - David Franklin Dunn of Burgaw, Judy Lee Dunn Scroggs & husband John of Asheville and Robert Johnson Dunn & wife Melanie of Morganton, and 3 grandchildren: Melody Christine Dunn Jenkins & husband Jason of Raleigh, Eric Franklin Dunn of Raleigh and Courtney Gail Dunn & husband Geoff King of Portland, OR.

Devoted nieces and nephews are Heather Hice Davis & husband John of Pleasant Garden, Thomas & Sue Dunn of Bahama, NC, Bobby & Priscilla Kearns of Georgetown, SC, and Susan Dermid of Wilmington among so many other relatives.

Known as Lew, he was a graduate of N.C. State University and an Elder Emeritus of Burgaw Presbyterian Church. Lew loved flying and had a Piper Cub before his service in the US Army in WW II, rising to the rank of Staff Sargent. He was a member of EAA Chapter 297 based at Stag Air Park for many years and flew into AirVenture Oshkosh on two occasions with his nephew Andy Dunn, USAF Lt. Col. (retired). Combining his love of flight with his woodworking skills, he helped build the Wright Brothers scale replica now on display at ILM Airport (Wilmington Int'l Airport).

Lew was a master gardener and loved raising and giving away his superb cantaloupes.

His professional career spanned teaching, dairy farming and public service. He was an Industrial Development Representative with the NC Dept of Commerce and specialized in food processing. This led to his appointment in 1969 as the first Executive Director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, with HQ in New Bern. Subsequent postings were as County Manager in Franklin County, and as Ex. Dir of the Pender County Economic Development Commission when he retired in 1988.

Lewis Dunn received recognition from numerous sources, starting with his designation as a Country Squire by Gov. W. Kerr Scott in 1952, and as Tar Heel of the Week in 1969. In 1970 Gov. Robert W. Scott appointed him to the N.C. Marine Science Council. He was a member of the Oyster Institute of America, the National Small Business Association and served as President of the ENC Economic Developers Association and Secretary of Pender Progress Corp.

Services will be held at Burgaw Presbyterian Church on Thursday, January 24 at 2:00 PM. Reverend Will Davis and Reverend Doctor Ray Mendenhall will officiate. Private burial will precede the service at Burgaw Cemetery with military honors accorded by the United States Army.

Please send memorials to Burgaw Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 565, Burgaw, NC 28425

You are invited to sign the guest book.