Submitted by
Ruth M. Brown
Willis
Garrett "Bill" Dunkum, Jr.
Birth: September
2, 1924
Marlin, Falls County, Texas
Death: January 7, 2006
Marlin, Falls County, Texas
Burial: Calvary
Cemetery
Marlin, Falls County, Texas
Willis was the son of Willis Garrett
and Edith Roberts Dunkum, Sr., and lived all of his life in Marlin. He
graduated from Marlin High School in 1942. Following high school, he attended
Kemper Military School in Booneville, Mo. and entered the U.S. Navy during WW II.
His military service was spent in the Pacific Theatre aboard the George Clymen,
APA27. After the war, he enrolled in Texas A&M University and graduated in
January of 1950 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. He was a member of A&M's
stellar award winning Livestock Judging Team.
Mr. Dunkum married Barbara Lea Reed
on Aug. 16, 1947 in Marlin. Upon his return to Marlin and following graduation
from A&M, Mr. Dunkum owned and operated Falls County Livestock Auction
Company. During the early 50's, he started his own cattle company. Following more
than 26 years as a Falls County rancher, he sold his holdings and opened a
restaurant in Taylor, Texas.
In 1988, Mr. Dunkum established
"Kwiker Sticker," a vehicle inspection station located on Valley
Mills Drive in Waco, which he operated until his death.
For nearly 50 years, Mr. Dunkum
served on the Board of Deacons and as a Ruling Elder of the First Presbyterian
Church in Marlin.
For nine years, Mr. Dunkum served
as Trustee of the Marlin Independent School District, the last three years of
which he served as President. During his presidency, the trustees set the
guidelines for integrating the school system and the planning, financing and
construction of the new high school building facilities.
Through the years, Mr. Dunkum
served as President of the Marlin Junior Chamber of Commerce and was an active
member of the Marlin Chamber of Commerce, Rotary club, Lions Club as well as
many of Marlin's civic organizatin committee.
Most recently, Mr. Dunkum delivered
"Meals on Wheels" in the Marlin area. Mr. Dunkum was a charter member
of the Real County Deer Group. The close-knit members enjoyed 28 years of
hunting deer, elk and fellowship. He was also a member of the Interruption
Society.
Mr. Dunkum was preceded in death by
his parents.
He is survived by his wife,
Barbara; sons, W. G. "Gary" Dunkum III and wife, Deborah of Houston,
and Robert Frank "Bob" Dunkum of Austin; daughters, Mary Ann Dunkum
of Lewisville and Carol Lea Contella and husband, Michael of Hewitt;
brothers-in-law, Bill Kirkpatrick and Richard Reed and wife, Minnell;
granddaughters, Madeline Dunkum Townsend and husband, Chad of Houston and
Kinnison Bryan and husband, Nem of Austin; grandchildren, Michael Joseph, Noah
Lea Contella and Lydia Lea Contella of Hewitt; and great-grandchildren, Ashley Elizabeth
Consolvo and Laren Jean Townsend of Houston.