Dr. Paul David Dunn, 94, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 13, 2009, after a sudden illness.
Paul was born in Youngstown, Ohio on August 19, 1915. Paul was a pastor for 47 years in the Evangelical Congregational Church denomination. After graduating from Toccoa Falls Bible College, Toccoa Falls, Georgia in 1937, he began his ministry at the age of 22 often being referred to as 'The Boy Preacher.' He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945 from the University of Findlay, his Master of Divinity degree from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in 1948, and an honorary doctorate from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in 1963. He served churches in Cedarville, Illinois; Afolkey, Illinois; Findlay, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio, and Akron, Ohio. In 1955 he was elected Conference Superintendent of the Eastern District of the Western Conference of the Evangelical Congregational church and served in that position for a total of 16 years throughout his ministry. He served on the Board of Christian Education for the Evangelical Congregational Church and was the first Camp Director for the denomination's youth camp, Camp ECCO in Carrollton, Ohio. He retired from the ministry in 1984 but accepted a position with Manchester Trinity Church as interim pastor where he served for three years. He was an active member and faithfully attended Akron First Evangelical Congregational Church in Firestone Park where he served from1947-1952 and again from 1964-1976. Paul was an avid golfer and member/founder of the Akron First Golf League started in 1957. He was able to play until age 90 and made his first hole in one at 80.
His parents George and Margaret, brothers John, Tom, George, Bill, Ray, and sister Harriet precede him in death. He is survived by Helen, his loving and devoted wife of 68 years; son, Joe; daughter, Julie, (Jim) Beltz; grandsons, Ryan Beltz, Tyler Dunn, Matthew Lowdermilk and granddaughter, Brittany Lowdermilk; daughter-in-law, Deanna Dunn; sister-in-law, Donna Nelson and brother-in-law, Wayne Nelson of Statesville, North Carolina; special nieces, Jane Wagner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vicki Kleckler of Lena, Illinois, and Laurie Gregg of Roscoe, Illinois as well as many other nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, brother, Robert of Zephyrhills, Florida; and long-time friends from the Second Milers Sunday School class.