David Russell Dunkin, D.O., age 67, of Marysville, died unexpectedly Sunday, December 31, 2023 at Memorial Hospital.
A family physician, he began his medical career in Putnam County, Ohio for Community Health Services fulfilling his National Public Health Service obligation, before opening his private practice in Continental, Ohio. After 11 years there, he and his family moved to Marysville where he practiced in Richwood for Memorial Hospital of Union County. Dr. Dunkin also served in the Occupational Health Clinic at the Honda of America plant prior to returning to Richwood in 2017.
Following his retirement in 2022, he continued practicing as a locum tenens physician in Newark and Dover, Ohio.
Dave was a 1974 graduate of Geneva High School in Geneva, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology cum laude from Wittenburg University. He received his doctorate degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathy, served his internship in Massillon and his residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus.
He was a longtime member of Cornerstone Global Methodist Church of Marysville. He served the church as an adult Sunday school teacher, was active in men’s Bible study and helped with the church rummage sale.
Dave served on several medical mission trips, including Mexico and The Congo, was the football team physician for North Union High School prior to his retirement. He attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree volunteering as a physician in the heat and humidity in addition to chaperoning several trips to Icthus Christian Music Festival in wet, muddy fields. He also worked with Youth for Christ, Delaware (Ohio), organizing a weekend bicycle trip and attended Marysville YFC Fall Retreat as a physician. After death, he has continued serving others by giving the gift of sight through the donation of his corneas to two recipients.
He was a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association and American College of General Practice. Outside of medicine he enjoyed the many fellowships he formed within the Continental Lions, Marysville Rotary and being a BIL of P.E.O.
Dave enjoyed collecting foreign coins. An outdoorsman, he loved golfing, camping, hiking, spending time in northern Michigan around a campfire and riding his Harley Davidson “Fat Boy Anniversary Edition.” Given his passion for helping others he volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 634 while James was participating and continued to serve as a Merit Badge Counselor. This past August he fulfilled a bucket list item from college days of riding to Yellowknife Northwest Territories with college buddies. Although the forest fires changed the destination the adventure was completed.
He was born January 17, 1956 in Ft. Madison, Iowa to the late Marion and Margaret Stokesberry Dunkin. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his infant children, Charles M. and Ladie Sue; his brothers, Ronald (Virginia), George and Richard Dunkin; his father-in-law, James Dale; and brothers-in-law, Roger and John Dale.
Dave is survived by the sunshine of his life, Carolyn Dale Dunkin, whom he married May 21, 1983 at Scotts Arboretum; his son, James Mitchell Dunkin; his sister, Edith (Mark) Dunkin Jeffreys; sisters-in-law, Judy Dunkin, Jan and Lisa Dale and Linda (Jeffrey) Price; his mother-in-law, Lois Dale; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.
The family will receive friends 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 5, 2024 at Underwood Funeral Home.
A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Cornerstone Global Methodist Church of Marysville. Rev. Nathan Custer will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Dunkin’s memory to the Wittenburg University Biology Department for the purchase of equipment and may be sent to Wittenburg University, Department of Advancement, P.O. Box 720, Springfield, Ohio 45501.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com.