Dayton Gunn, age 96, of Rutherfordton, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born June 7, 1920 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was a son to the late Irwin Simpson Gunn and Blanche Estelle Bowen Gunn. Dayton served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-46. He was assigned to the 6th Artillery Marine Division during World War II and served during the invasion of Okinawa, Guadalcanal and Guam. He worked for Sutherland Paper Company for twenty-five years and owned and operated the Pleasant Lake Resort in Three Rivers, Michigan for many years. Dayton enjoyed golfing and was especially active in volunteering his time to help others. He truly had a servant's heart. He was a faithful member of the First Assembly of God in Forest City.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years, Doris Owen Gunn; three sisters, Viola Hazler, Glenora Snyder, Erlene Johnson and a brother, Alford Gunn.
Those left to cherish his memory include, one daughter, Jolene Baughman and husband, Kerry of Rutherfordton; son, James Gunn and wife, Anne-Marie of Merida Yucatan, Mexico; two grandchildren, Scott Baughman (Tammy) of Hickory and Debbie Craig (Neal II) of Rutherfordton; three great-grandchildren, Nathan Craig, Neal Craig III and Chris Baughman (Marla). He is also survived by two great-great-grandchildren, Ruby Baughman and Hannah Baughman.
The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the First Assembly of God with Pastor Thurston Greene officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church. Entombment will follow at the Cleveland Memorial Park Mausoleum with military honors being rendered by the Rutherford County Honor Guard.
Memorial donations are respectively requested to the First Assembly of God, 2158 Hudlow Road, Forest City, NC 28043.
Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
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