On Saturday, July 21, 2012, Frederick Gerald Dunford, 70, of Dublin, went to be with his Lord as the result of an ATV accident while spending time in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia.
Born Oct. 26, 1941 at Popular Camp in Wythe County, he was the only son of the late Fred Baker Dunford and Ruby Mae Graham Dunford. His sister, Donna, and nephew, Sean Keating, also preceded him in death.
Gerald was a 1960 graduate of Dublin High School. He served his country in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963. He was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He placed fourth in the physical training test out of a company of 213 men upon graduating from basic training. He was a 1969 graduate of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 491 Apprenticeship School, Roanoke. His combined membership in the Roanoke and Richmond locals was 48 years. Gerald served on the examining and executive boards of Local 491. He served as steward on numerous jobs.
Once, along with friends, Gerald swam a distance of approximately 2.5 miles in Claytor Lake. He was an avid sports fan. Hunting and trout fishing were two of his many hobbies. Gerald loved the game of baseball. He was the leadoff hitter and played outfield for Pulaski Counts during the mid-60s. He was a three-year letterman in high school.
He liked classic country music, southern gospel, bluegrass and old time mountain music. He enjoyed dancing and flatfooting.
Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his wife and friend, Nancy, of 41 years.
Gerald once saved a person’s life and helped save another. Gerald loved poetry and in the late 60s he learned to recite the entire Edgar Allen Poe poem, “The Raven.”
Surviving are his wife, Nancy Ellen McCraw Dunford of Dublin; sons, Anthony “Tony” Dunford of Christiansburg, Carmen Dunford and wife, Melinda Dunford, of Radford, and Steven Dunford of Pulaski; stepson, Steve Jenkins of Dublin; two grandchildren, Cassandra Jenkins Glascock and Chelsea Jenkins; great-granddaughter, Kyra Williams; sisters, Jean Keating and husband, Terrence, of Candler, N.C., Rebecca Dale Myers of Salem, and Judy Bibb and husband, Mike, of Buchanan; special cousin, Mac and Bernie Dunford of Tennessee; special nieces and nephews; four sisters-in-law, Betty Allen, Dawn Morehead, Loretta Roope and Diane Tolbert and husband, Mel, all of Dublin, and many special friends and classmates.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 25, 11 a.m., at Bower Funeral Home Chapel, Pulaski, with the Rev. Johnny Howlett officiating. Interment will follow at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Dublin, with Pulaski VFW Post 1184 conducting full military honors.
The family will receive friends today, Tuesday, July 25, from 6-8 p.m., at Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to your charity of choice.
To send online condolences to the family, visit www.bowerfuneralhome.com.
Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski, is handling the arrangements for the Dunford family.
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