James Marvin Dunn

James Marvin Dunn, 73, of Harker Heights, Texas passed away in his home surrounded by family on Thursday, May 16, 2024, after battling Parkinson’s disease. Jim was born to Maurice & Virginia (Hass) Dunn on September 17, 1950, in Fort Riley, KS, in the same building where he would later work as an Army dentist. He was the second of six children, five boys and one girl, which his dad fondly referred to as his basketball team and a cheerleader. He was a consummate big brother to the ‘littles’.

As part of a military family, Jim grew up on posts where the Army sent them, fittingly, his favorite childhood song was, “As the Caissons Go Rolling Along”. He was a fastidious model airplane builder, Putt-Putt golf champion, Boy Scout, snazzy dresser, and ran track. He lived at Fort Riley, KS - Fort Eustis, VA - Okinawa, Japan - Colorado Springs, CO - Fort Campbell, KY – Ankara, Turkey – Fort Riley, KS then moved to Junction City, KS when his dad retired, with a final move to Overland Park, KS, where his dad accepted a position as Assistant Personnel Director at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). One of the downsides of being a military brat was going to four different high schools, from tiny St. Xavier’s to the big Shawnee Mission West public high school in Overland Park from which he graduated in 1968. He attended the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, KS, cultivating lifelong Jayhawk friends, and then the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) Dental School, earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1980.

While attending dental school, Jim worked nights in the Microbiology Lab of KUMC where he met his future wife of 42 years, Cindi (Cynthia) White, whom his dad had hired as a medical technologist, and little did he know at the time, his future daughter-in-law. Jim proposed under the beautiful Christmas lights on the Kansas City Plaza, and they were married in Old Mission United Methodist Church, Fairway, KS on October 9, 1982. Their first home was Denver, CO where Jim continued in dentistry and Cindi worked for DuPont Medical Products and their love of the mountains often took them skiing.

Jim’s sense of duty to country had him accept a commission into the US Army DENTAC as a Dental Officer in 1985. Once again the Army sent him, and now his family, around the world; Fort Sam Houston, TX - Fort Riley, KS where he earned the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) – Fort Clayton, Panama during Operation Just Cause to depose Noriega – The Presidio, San Francisco, CA as Chief Endodontist, where his daughter, Emily, was born in 1993 – Fort Leavenworth, KS where his twin sons, Ethan and Trevor, were born in 1997 – Camp Zama, Japan – Fort Hood, TX for the Advanced General Dentistry Residency (AEGD) – Wuerzburg, Germany – Kuwait and Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After 20 years on active duty, Jim retired from the Army in 2005 and moved his family back to Harker Heights, TX where he worked at Fort Hood as a civilian dentist for 11 years before retiring again in 2016 after 36 years of dentistry. Jim was a well-respected dentist by those who worked with him; known for his attention to detail, intelligence, dry wit, and ability to calm even the most anxious (or ornery) patient.

He was a history buff, an avid KC Chiefs fan, a talented golfer, and an unassuming adventurer. He traveled to six continents, scuba dived in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, sledded down Zugspitze – Germany’s highest peak, walked across the upper arch of Sydney’s Harbor Bridge, hiked the Great Wall of China, summited the top of Mt. Fuji, and even ziplined down the old Las Vegas strip on Slotzilla for the twins’ 21st birthday. He loved to travel, explore historical sites, and experience other cultures. He was a kind and gentle soul, a quiet observer, amazingly brilliant, and a man of few words but with looks that spoke volumes. He was annoyingly punctual, meticulously tidy, a great grill master, who spoiled his dogs rotten over the years, and never met a cheese he didn’t like.

But most of all, he was a loving husband and a proud dad; helping build prize-winning Pinewood Derby cars, attending many a dance recital with flowers in hand, going to sporting events, choir concerts, SMU and Texas Tech college football games and events, and a supporter of all paths his children pursued.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife Cindi and three children; Emily Dunn and husband Cody Anderson, Dallas, TX; Ethan Dunn, Belton, TX; and Trevor Dunn, Ocala, FL. He is also survived by five siblings: Larry Dunn, Douglasville, GA; Gregory Dunn, Des Moines, Iowa; Mary (Dunn) Landry and husband Ed, Katy, TX; Ron Dunn, Woodstock, GA; and Ken Dunn and wife Olena Oliynyk-Dunn, Abuja, Nigeria; and eight nieces and nephews; Ayden Dunn, Kate Van Norman, Elizabeth Landry and husband Jacob Brinker and son, Liam; Felix Landry and wife Faith and family; Raven Landry, Nick Dunn, Brittany Dunn, and Sofiya Dunn. Jim is preceded in death by his parents and sisters-in-law, Betty Dunn and Debbie Dunn.

His last PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to Heaven is where the greatest adventure awaits. His was a life well lived and he will be sorely missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the First United Methodist Church - Killeen, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or the charity of your choosing.