Obituary for Joseph Mitchell Dunn, USN Retired

Life Story for Joseph Mitchell Dunn, USN Retired

Joseph Mitchell Dunn was born February 12, 1923 in Monroe County, Kentucky to the late Carson B. and Mary Chism Dunn. He departed this life on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 in Chesapeake, Virginia (Age 92). He was a resident of Norfolk, Virginia for 59 years.
He was known as “Joe”, “Captain”, “Mitch”, “Chief”, “Dunn”, “Mr. D”, but he was definitely “Grandaddy” and “Dad”.
He served his country in the United States Navy retiring as a Chief Petty Officers after 25 years of service. He was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded and decorated with medals, campaign ribbons and badges such as the American Campaign Ribbon, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, Navy Occupation, National Defense and Good Conduct Medal.
He also retired again as a mail carrier for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
He is predeceased by his loving wife Lalla Bernice Dunn. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Oberon Mishelle Dunn-Swift, Darlene Dunn-Turner, Quinton E. Gordon (Idelle), Michael C. Dunn and Carlton L. Dunn; his brother, Hershell P. Dunn (Karen); his nine grandchildren, Joseph Gordon, Jeffrey Gordon, Lauren Dunn, Michaele Dunn, Lisa Dunn-Harris, Carla Dunn-Mitchell, Carlton Dunn, Jr, Tyshera Dunn and Charles Swift III; six great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and a host of other family members and friends.
He was willing to help anyone without hesitation, without a second thought, without any questions.
He loved working in his yard but found more joy when his daughters would let him come over and help out in their yards. He always appreciated the compliments he received about “all of his beautiful yard work”. He would trim a bush and make it look like a basket or something unique. He also loved his boating and fishing on days that were good only because he kept check on the weather so many days in advance.
As he made the full course menus and prepared the Navy ship’s meals for many years, he would also do the same at his home and during the holidays or whatever the occasion would be, with much passion and artwork. He could actually peel different vegetables and make them look like flowers.
He did not care too much for sports. But knowing his passion for golf when Tiger Woods was playing, each of his sons would make sure they called him, just to be sure he was watching.
Oh and if the Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune game shows were on, it was definitely a mistake to call him at these times because he was always destined to see who would win and how much.
Lastly, he hand made those very nice, detailed leather wallets and small pouches. He was known for making those wooden shellac with chrome trim “handles” to go on the trunk of your car (he always said he could never understand why they stopped making cars without trunk handles). He made a lot of things with stainless steel. His most popular, the stainless steel money clip. (If a vote was taken, many would say they own one.) And if you had not noticed, he is actually going home in a Moonstone stainless steel casket!!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Terain, United States Army (Retired) First Sergeant, “Mr. D” thought of you like his son and called you “Airborne”. He would always thank you for all of the care you provided for him even as he approached his last moments of life. He would either reach out for you to shake his hand or he would just give you the “thumbs up”. He greatly enjoyed when you would make time to shoot “20” games of pool with him (that which was supposed to be just a couple of games). Then after you would “let him win” all of the games, he would leave you and go to his brother’s house for the real “bring it on” games of pool. He appreciated your being there with us to some of his unnerving doctor visits to lend your ear so that you could then have those strong talks with his doctors. Then mostly, after these visits, he knew you would sit and talk with him (one military man to another) over a Hardee’s burger. Thank you so very much! ~Mishelle
The family would like to express their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, as well as the staff at Chesapeake Place/Assisted Living, Chesapeake Health/Rehabilitation, all the Heart Care and all of his treating doctors. Your thoughts, prayers and words of kindness are deeply appreciated.