DUNN, RALPH (1924 ~ 2016). The following is an obituary for Ralph O. Dunn, spouse of Justice D. Camille Hutson-Dunn. The obituary was published in the December 21, 2016 edition of the Houston Chronicle.
Ralph O. Dunn, Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, died of natural causes on Tuesday, the 20th of December 2016.
Ralph was born on July 20, 1924 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of two children, the other being Robert Earl Dunn. Ralph grew up during the depression. Ralph's father graduated in civil engineering but during the depression, the construction business was scarce. His father finally went to work in East Lansing, Michigan. Ralph entered MSC there and was in the ROTC. In 1943, WW II started and Ralph enlisted and went through aviation cadet training on a B -17 flight crew on a radar navigation bombardier. In 1944 he went overseas and flew 10-12 hour missions into Germany. The war ended on April 17, 1945. On his last mission German jets shot 2 bombers right next to his wing. He was sent home to report for B 29 school in Santa Anna, California. While there, the atom bomb ended the war and upon being discharged he entered the University of Michigan as a pre-med student.
Ralph married Camille Hutson on the 16th of August 1952. He graduated from medical school in 1955, and moved his family to Houston to start practice and practiced for over 50 years. His wife Camille finished law school and became the first woman elected as a justice to the First Court of Appeals in the State of Texas. Justice Dunn retired in 2006 and became a senior judge. Ralph retired at the age of 79 in 1998.
In 1968 they started to build a ranch in Bedias, Texas. He worked the ranch on weekends until his back wouldn't let him do ranch work. The ranch was sold in 2009. Since then, he has devoted his time to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was beloved by his extended family and will live on in their hearts forever. Bye Granddaddy Ralph, we love you.
He is survived by his loving wife, D. Camille Dunn. They had over 64 wonderful years together. He is also survived by his sons, Rod, Steve, and daughter Alix, grandsons Rodney, Andy, and Christopher, granddaughters Camille Marie and Molly Jane, and great granddaughters, Grace Ann and Lela.
The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 23rd of December, in the sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.
The family will gather for a private interment at Texas State Cemetery in Austin at a later date.
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