Robert Henry Dunn, Jr. (Bob) was born March 8, 1927 in Largo, Florida, died peacefully at home on March 20, 2017. Preceded in death by his son, Robert H. Dunn III. As a child, Bob lived in Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, Kansas, and to a farm in Oklahoma during the great depression, then Houston, Texas where he worked in the ship yards and learned to fly small airplanes in his spare time. When World War II broke out he lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Upon discharge from the service he attended the University of Florida under the GI Bill, and earned a degree in Engineering, then returned to Pinellas County and took over the family drywall, stucco and plastering business. He also ran a lobster business in the Bahamas, catching lobsters and flying them back to St. Pete Clearwater Airport where he had contracts with local restaurants. When Jimmy Carter was running for president he donated his time and airplane to fly Mr. Carter to campaign stops in Florida. He flew cargo all over the world, but always returned to Pinellas County. He loved Pinellas County and thought this was the most beautiful place on earth. Survived by his loving wife, Mary and his beloved cat BG.
Bob was a great friend of mine and a fellow airman for over 45 years. We shared many hours aloft together in the cockpit of an Aero Commander 520, a beautiful high winged, twin engined workhorse of an airplane. We flew Florida lobsters out of the Bahama Islands for St. Petersburg/Clearwater area restaurants, and flew Jimmy Carter and Senator (former Astronaut) John Glenn around the State of Florida during the 1975/76 Presidential campaigns. We continued to fly together after the Commander was retired in a variety of airplanes for many, many years. Bob was an adventurer at heart and a “good stick” in an airplane. His wonderful wife Mary was beside him along the way and was a significant part of his life, the best part according to Bob. Although Bob has taken his last flight westbound, his spirit is now where all pilots go, having a toast with his fellow aviators, and saluting the heavens.