Jimmy Dunn was born in Iowa, but raised on the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. He was hired by Inland Airlines in 1942 as a commercial pilot, and was based in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

When WWII broke out he inlisted. He served in the South Pacific flying Navy transport aircraft between islands, picking up injured, and delivering supplies. He was part of the Naval Air Transport Squadron Eleven, or VR-11. It was during this time that he flew with and became life long friends with fellow squadron pilots Cliff Miller and Robert Fults. Cliff would fly as a commercial pilot for Southern Airlines after the war and Robert would become a successful attorney.

Jimmy returned to Inland Airlines after the war. Inland had merged with Western Airlines during the war and Jimmy was placed back on the seniority roster. He flew for Western as a commercial pilot until his retirement in 1977. While based in Denver, Colorado with Western in the late 1940s he met Western stewardess Eva Coburn. They were married in Inglewood, California in 1951. They lived in Manhattan Beach, Ca and raised their family there. Eva passed away in 2007, and Jimmy passed away in 2010 at 93. They were married for 56 years and were survived by two children that adored them both. They traveled and worked together for their entire marriage.

Jimmy always loved being a pilot and told many colorful WWII stories throughout his life. Jimmy was a popular and friendly man at work and in his town. He was gregarious, generous, a great dad and husband, and a successful business man. He was smart and active until his death in 2010.

At 90 he had cardiac bypass surgery and valve replacement. He healed so quickly he was able to return to salmon fishing in Alaska the following year. That year he was requested to come into the DMV to take a driver's test and written test to get his driver's license. He got 100% on the front side of the written test, so he turned it over and took the other side, just for fun. He got 100% on side two as well. Then he was given a driving test where he was asked to parallel park his truck. After the test his daughter asked him how it went and he said "piece of cake". He received a five year extension on his driver's license and would have been able to drive until 95 if he had not lost his life rather quickly at 93 to pancreatic cancer.

Jimmy had a full and exciting life and looked forward to each day. Jimmy is missed by friends, fellow employees and family.

Jimmy Dunn was a very special man. I am so proud to say that he was my dad.

Written by Jimmy and Eva's daughter Michelle Dunn. August, 2017

James D Dunn