Obituary of Richard Lee Dunbar

MSgt Richard Lee Dunbar USMC Ret. 80, of Post Falls, ID died Wednesday May 20, 2015. Memorial Services will be held at 11:15 am on Friday, June 5, 2015 at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA. Rich was born August 29, 1934 in St Mary’s City, MD to Warren Reginald Dunbar and Cora Susette (Ridgell) Dunbar. He attended catholic schools and was active as an altar boy. He then attended and graduated from St Michael High School in 1952. His class motto was “With Faith and Courage” and he followed that motto his entire life. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. During his 24 year career he was involved in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and was highly decorated. He retired in 1975. In 1960 he married Margaret Dolan of Batley, England and they had 3 children. In 1978 he married Judith A. Vrandenburg of IL. Both preceded him in death. After he retired from the Marines, he moved to Rock Springs, WY where he worked for Black Butte Coal Company until 1987. He then moved back to Lexington Park, MD to be near his mother and family. He went to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency at Pautuxent Naval Base. He retired in 1996 and moved to Mountain Home, ID to be close to his niece Sally Meyers and husband DW. He was soon traveling extensively in his motor home, visiting family and making new friends wherever he went. He was a member of the American Legion and active in the Elks Lodge. He met and married the love of his life Rebecca (Reba) Buchan while in Mountain Home, ID. They continued their travels, spending winters at Martinez Lake in Yuma, AZ, fishing and enjoying all the great friends they met there. They finally settled in Post Falls, ID. He enjoyed being with family, BBQ’ing, cooking, doing crossword puzzles, and playing cards and games. He loved to win! He also enjoyed fishing local lakes. Rich is survived by his wife Reba Buchan Dunbar of Post Falls, ID; daughter Linda Marie Gayman and husband Brett of Athol, ID; son Warren Richard Dunbar of Kearneysville, WV; son Kevin Anthony Dunbar and wife Audra of Redding, CA; stepdaughters and spouses Deidre Abbott (Frank), Darlene Allen (Mark) and Barbara Buchan. 11 grandchildren; Trevor, Cody, Melody, Nicole, Katherine “Katie”, Logan, Richard, Kalynn, Krystinn, Cameron, and Kyle and 8 great grandchildren; Kolton, Kiarra, Ronnie, Samantha, Zhaden, Kitana, Darrion, and Halen, 3 brothers and sisters; Harold Dunbar (Alice) of Charlottesville, VA; Nancy Bryant (Emory) of Knoxville, MD; Violet Dunbar Hines of Lexington Park, MD and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Rich was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ellen Dunbar Wright of Elkhart, IL; Alma (Dunbar) Plummer of Lexington Park, MD and brother Edward “Casey” Dunbar of Lexington Park,MD. He is loved and will be missed by all.