Roger Abram Dunning

Roger A. Dunning, 97, a resident of Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, formerly of Stroudsburg, passed away peacefully early Monday morning, February 17, 2014, at the Kirkland Village, in Bethlehem. He was the widower of the late Dr. E. Ruth (Breitwieser) Dunning, who passed away on August 31, 2012.

He was born in East Stroudsburg on April 14, 1916, a son of the late Mr. Seldon B. and Mary (Jenkins) Dunning Burrows. Roger graduated from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, East Stroudsburg, and received a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY.

Roger began his teaching career in the Pocono Township Elementary School, and after two years he obtained a position with the East Stroudsburg Area School District teaching Civics to ninth graders. He held that position for six years until he became principal of the W.H. Ramsey School in Stroudsburg, for the Stroudsburg Area School District. Roger was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum K-12 by Superintendent Samuel O. Wells, III. In 1955 he became the supervisor of elementary all the elementary schools in the Stroudsburg Area School district. He concluded his career, retiring in 1974 after 36 years in education.

He was an active member of the East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church, East Stroudsburg. Roger was a Commissioner to the Lehigh Presbytery for many terms. He served twice as a Commissioner to the Synod of the Church and was also a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Roger also sang in the church choir for 70 years. He was a life member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Pennsylvania Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, member and past president of the Northeast District of PA.S.C.D., and was on the Board of Directors of the ESSC Alumni Board of which he is an Emeritus Director, and the ESSC Foundation Board.

Roger served on numerous community boards. Among them were: Thirty-two years on the Board of Directors of the General Hospital of Monroe County where he served as president for four years, now the current Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. He was a member of the Children’s Bureau of Monroe County, Past President of the Monroe County Historical Society in Stroudsburg, Board member of the Historical Farm Association, Advancement Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America, and member of the advisory board for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northeast Pennsylvania.

He was a Rotarian, a member of the Stroudsburg Rotary Club and the Nazareth Rotary Club, and a life member of the Pocono Forestry Association. Roger received the Gold Award from Pocono Hospital and the Benjamin Rush Award from the Monroe County Medical Society. He was an Emeritus member of the Foundation Board of East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg and of the Foundation Board of the Pocono Hospital, East Stroudsburg.

Roger had a lifelong love of horses. He rode with the late Ruth and Jesse Flory and for a number of years with the late Dr. James G. Kitchen of Pocono Lake. In later years he bought a registered Quarter Horse which was stabled with Dr. Kitchen’s horses. He enjoyed many years of ridding with the late Dr. and Mrs. Kitchen.

Preceding him in death in addition to his parents and second wife was his first wife Ruth G. (Labar) Dunning, who passed away on January 13, 1965, brother, Gilbert E. Dunning and his wife Dr. Jean Dace Golden Dunning; sister, Margaret, wife of the late Loring H. Cramer.

Surviving is his son Richard R. Dunning, of East Nassau, NY; and nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday February 22, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. in the East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church, 53 Smith Street, East Stroudsburg with his pastors Rev. Samuel Huffard and Rev. Edmund Freeborn officiating. Interment will follow in Prospect Cemetery, Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg.

A public visitation will be held on Saturday from noon until the time of the service at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, Inc. 27 Washington Street, East Stroudsburg, PA, where online condolences can be made at www.lantermanallenfh.com

Arrangements under the direction of Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, East Stroudsburg, PA.