David Mark Dunbar

Lt. Commander David M. Dunbar, USNR, (Ret.) passed away on 25 January 2025. David was born 1 November 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia in 1967 and went on to West Virginia University where he became a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. In 1971 having joined the US Air Force ROTC, he became a member of the Arnold Air Society. He separated from the Air Force in 1973. In 1976 David enlisted in the US Navy and upon graduating from Chapman College became an Ensign in 1979. As he progressed through his Naval career he attained his goal of becoming a Naval Aviator all the while receiving glowing commendations from each of his commanding officers to include: Fighter Sq. One Hundred Eleven Sundowner of the month, (Apr. 1978); Forrestal Centurion, (1982); Carrier Air Wing Seventeen Letter of Commendation, Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Thirty (27 Apr. 1982),  Naval Air Training “For Superior Performance as Assistant Training Office, Academic Student Control Officer and Instrument Ground School Instructor, Training Air Wing Four” , (Apr. 1984 – Feb. 1987). Upon retirement from the Navy in 1997 David worked for Booz Allen Hamilton continuing to teach and write manuals for Aviators here and abroad.

David loved sky diving, dogs, the Ice Pilots and Ice Flyers, golf, playing poker and hanging out with friends. He was funny, stubborn, easy to get along with and always supportive of family, friends, co-workers and subordinates.

David came from a very close knit family. He lost his mother Mary Ellen (Peterson) Dunbar when he was only 9, his father Dr. Russell E. Dunbar, D.O. in 1992 and both of his grandmothers Ida Rebecca (Hall) Peterson and Refina King (Dorsey) Dunbar in the 1960’s .

David never married. His family were sister Sue E Donavin; brother-in-law Lt. Col. Matther W. Donavin III, Ret.; Nieces Kathleen Donavin-Smith and Deborah Donavin-Gibbons; great nephews Sgt. Matthew Smith, US Army and Airman Donavin Gibbons, USAF; great niece Brianna Smith. We all miss his humor, his love and his pride in us.

David was buried 4 Feb. 2025 in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida section 58, site 42 where the jets fly over him and the golf course he played thousands of times is close by.

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