Johnnie Dunn

Johnnie Ruth Dunn, age 86 and a resident of Gulfport, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday, February 21, 2008 in Gulfport, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. Johnnie was the beloved daughter of Ruby and John Mitchell. She was born, raised, and educated in the small town of Parkin, Arkansas. There she met and married her husband of 64 years, the late Walter R. Dunn, an Air Force officer and later college professor.
Johnnie's professional career as an administrative assistant and private secretary followed their military deployments in Illinois, Mississippi, Germany, England, and Maryland. Their last assignment was Keesler Air Force Base where she was employed for many years as the private secretary and assistant to the Chief of Security Police at Keesler Air Force Base.
Johnnie was appointed president of the Professional Women's Club in 1978. She was also active in the Republican Women's Club and was a frequent volunteer at the polls. She was a member of the Mississippi City United Methodist Church in Gulfport.
Upon their retirement, Johnnie and Walter continued their travels taking many world cruises during which they collected friends from around the country to add to their vast military contacts. Relaxing for Johnnie involved gardening and fishing with Walter, bargain hunting and a weekly pinochle game with close friends Robert and Ester Shutt.
She enjoyed analyzing the stock market and following college football, especially the Arkansas Razorbacks. """"My mother was a renaissance woman,"""" said daughter Carolyn. """"She established a career before it was considered correct for married women to work. One of my favorite memories of my mother was in England where she donned a dress, hat and gloves and took off down a hill on a bicycle to an officers wive's club meeting. That was the first and last tea party she attended.""""
Johnnie's daughter, grandchildren, and extended family and friends will cherish her memory. She was a beautiful, intelligent and compassionate woman who faced her adversities without complaint.
Her family would like to thank her caretakers, church family, neighbors, and the Gulfport Memorial Hospice for their care and support of Johnnie during her long illness.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:30am at Mississippi City United Methodist Church in Gulfport where friends may visit one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Mississippi City United Methodist Church, 219 Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS 39507.
THE RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com.