ODESSA — James Edgar Dunn of Odessa was born on January 21, 1921, in Freeport, Texas, to James Arlee Dunn and Martha Elizabeth Gibson Dunn and left this earth to be with them on Saturday, April 3, 2004. James and his wife of 60 years resided at the Parks Methodist retirement village.
He is survived by his wife, twin sons, Ronnie J. Dunn and wife, Anne-marie, of Odessa, Rennie J. Dunn and his wife, Elizabeth, of Austin, Texas; daughter, Robinette Marks and husband, Jack, of Bartlett, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Cammie and Cole Barton of Austin, Daniel and Jessica Marks of Cordova, Tenn., Jeffery and Rachel Marks of Memphis, Tenn., Paxton and Jennifer Dunn of Dallas and Gentry Dunn of Odessa; three great-grandchildren, Trey Barton of Austin and Victoria and Katrina Marks of Memphis, Tenn.
James was one of nine children: one sister deceased, Julia Howard of Post; sisters, Faye Hunter of Abilene, Joann McClelland and husband, Charles, of Abilene, Ruby Box of Dallas, Sonya Adams and husband, Ken, of Dallas; brothers, Robert Dunn and wife, Pat, of Brownwood, J.D. Dunn of Denton and Dewey Dunn and wife, June, of Lake Granbury.
He is also survived by a whole host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and many friends.
He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1947 in the South Pacific, spending time in the Philippines and the Fiji Islands. In 1947, he and his wife, Mary, came to west Texas to seek their fortune. He first worked for the Banner Ice Cream Company and then went to work for the Del-Tex Candy Company. In 1960, Col. Fitzgerald, Claude Dooley and James Dunn founded Odessa’s Most Unusual Store, “Strike It Rich, Inc.” It was the first successful discount store in Odessa. It was noted for having everything you would need to survive. He was noted for his high moral standards, strength of character and honesty. He had been retired since the business sold in the late 1970s. He and his wife, Mary, retired in San Angelo where he enjoyed and loved entertaining all his family.
He was noted for making large amounts of Christmas candy and sending it to all his friends and relatives. He was an accomplished cook and supplied all his grandchildren with his famous “Monster Cookies.”
Papa truly loved his entire family and never met a stranger. He also enjoyed entertaining his in-laws, the Robinett family; Robert and Maggie Robinett of Santa Anna, Texas, Bill and Donna Robinett of Brady, Jim and Jean of Chimney Rock, Colo., and Maurine Griffin of Austin.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at the Eisenhower Church of Christ.
Pallbearers will be Cole Jack Barton II, Cole Jack Barton III, Daniel Marks, Jeffery Marks, Jimmy L. Robinett and Billy Joe Robinett. Honorary pallbearers are Robert Dunn, J.D. Dunn, and Dewey Dunn. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at Sunset Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Odyssey Home Hospice of Odessa and Battered Women and Children of Odessa.
Services entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.