Francis William Dunne Jr., better known as Bill or Pop, died on Friday, February 4, 2022 in Charlotte, NC.
A private prayer service and interment will be held at the Columbarium at St. Matthew Catholic Church. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 16, at Living Saviour Lutheran Church at 6817 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, NC 28226. A reception will be held at the Dunne house directly following the Memorial Service.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Colette Wilkes, son-in-law, Rod Wilkes, and grandchildren, Meg, Adrienne, Jack, and Billy Wilkes; his son, Terry Dunne, daughter-in-law, Debbie, and grandchildren, Matthew, Steven, and Christina Dunne; as well as by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Kay Dunne.
Bill was born in Washington, DC to Dr. Francis William and Mary Dunne. He grew up in downtown DC and had an abundance of stories about playing with his friends in the Capital building, Washington Monument, and other sites in DC. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Joan Evers.
Bill graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington DC, then enlisted in the United States Navy. After spending his time in the Navy, he completed his Associate’s Degree at Strayer College. Bill had a career with the United States Department of Interior in the Fish and Wildlife Bureau until he took early retirement due to a diagnosis of melanoma cancer. A year after his initial diagnosis, he was found to be cancer free and remained cancer free the rest of his life.
Bill first spotted Jean, his future wife of 58 years, at a government employee blood drive at the Red Cross. Bill would fondly say he saw her across the room in a stunning red dress but didn’t approach her because she had fainted giving blood. He later had his associate hunt down the “woman in red” and proceeded to call her to “make sure she was alright.” They were married in Washington on October 12, 1963 and soon moved to Camp Springs, Maryland, and then Potomac, MD, where they lived until 2004. Bill loved watching his kids play sports and coached both football and basketball teams through the years. In 2004, the native Washingtonian moved to Charlotte, NC to be close to Colette, Rod, and their kids.
Pop, as his grandkids called him, loved more than anything attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. Until he became less mobile, he did not miss a football, lacrosse, basketball, soccer game, or swim meet, and in his eyes his grandkids were always the best on the field, court, or in the pool. He attended all graduations and special award ceremonies and bragged to anyone he met about his grandchildren’s accomplishments. Up until his passing, Bill loved watching sports and was incredibly knowledgeable about all sports and current events.
The family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family and friends.
Memorials may be made to The Charlotte Rescue Mission via phone (704) 333-HOPE ext. 269 or by mail to Charlotte Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 33000, Charlotte, NC 28233; or to St. Matthew Catholic Church at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277 in memory of Francis William Dunne.
Published by Robertson Funeral & Cremation Service – Charlotte on Feb. 9, 2022.
