SFC (Ret.) Lester Turner Dunn

Lester Turner Dunn of Columbus, Georgia passed away at Columbus Hospice at the age of 90 after a long battle with cancer. He was born on December 16th, 1930 in Cosby, Tennessee to the late John Ray Dunn and Nora Anna Belle (Bryant) Dunn. He was a proud servant to his nation with his long-term 20-year career in the US Army and always continued to identify himself as a military person throughout his long life after his retirement. He served 3 tours in Vietnam as a combat medic and was awarded The Bronze Star Medal. He was also awarded The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He grew up during The Great Depression in East Tennessee. Even with hardship all around him, he was surrounded by the love of his large family. As a young man, he worked with intense labor in timber as well as farming. He grew up in and around Newport, Tennessee.

His career in the military was as a medical technician in various fields in different capacities.

He worked in many areas that varied from X-Ray technician to being the Ward Master of the Pediatric Wing of Zama US Army Hospital at the United States Pacific Headquarters in Japan. During his tours in Vietnam, he served as a combat medic in the field and also as the first sergeant of a forward operating Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M-A-S-H) unit. He met the love of his life, Yukiko Abe, a Japanese Red Cross nurse, at Zama US Army Hospital in Japan. They married on July 20, 1959. They continued happily as a married couple for the rest of his life while holding in high esteem raising his family together with Yukiko. He and his wife welcomed the birth of their first child, Gary Dunn, in 1960 and their second child Donna Dunn in 1965. Lester transferred to Fort Benning Georgia twice between tours of Vietnam. While at Fort Benning, he was assigned medical duties at Martin Army Hospital until his military retirement in 1972. Upon retiring from the Army, he took a short-term position with Hurricane/Allied Fence Company as a sales consultant. Then he enjoyed working for a beloved local small family business for many years, Allen's Exterminating Company. Before and during his retirement throughout his life, he was an avid gardener who grew a large unique variety of vegetables and also planted a fruit orchard on his plot of property in Waverly Hall Georgia at his beloved "Melody Lakes" which he frequented on weekends during his work years and nearly every day during his earlier retirement years. He also gardened in the city at his home in Columbus, Georgia and very gladly gave his harvest to his friends, and their friends & family. He was closely in touch with his Army and civilian friends throughout his long life in Columbus. He was an active member of the VFW and American Legion. He immersed himself in his adopted home of Columbus and Fort Benning culture where he lived most of his life. But he always thought of himself as a "Tennessee boy" to which he always remained loyal. He never wavered from his love of The Army nor the love of his family. Guiding his family's success was his primary life goal. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and was engulfed in the love of the Holy Spirit. He was preceded in death by his brothers, William Dunn, and Victor Dunn of Newport, Tennessee. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Yukiko (Abe) Dunn, his son Gary Lee Dunn, his daughter Donna (Dunn) Sargent, grandchildren Heather Elaine Sargent & Haley Elizabeth Sargent, and his great-grandson Kai Anthony Moody. His siblings Patricia Harris of New Jersey, Lois Roach of Tennessee, Clifford Dunn of North Carolina, Jerry Dunn of Tennessee, Doris Davis of North Carolina, Imajean Mantooth of Tennessee.

Visitation for Lester Dunn will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, Georgia Thursday, July 15th from 6 PM to 8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Chapel in Columbus, Georgia Friday, July 16th at 11 AM. Graveside Services will be held at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Alabama at 1 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made to the Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation's John B. Amos Cancer Center Fund as a Tribute Gift in Lester Dunn's memory.