Obituary Notices: James “Billy” York and David Thomas Dunn

James “Billy” York of Smithland, Ky., died September 24 at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, Ky. York was 83.

A native of Waynesboro, Tenn., York spent many years as a chief engineer for Crounse Corporation. Besides his career in the maritime industry, York was an outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and working outside.

“He was also a pretty good golfer in his prime and never passed up a good meal,” his obituary stated. “Billy was known for being an exceptionally hard worker, with a work ethic like no other. Above all, he cherished time spent with his family and friends.”

York was a member of Smithland First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer Bill York and Aileen Christine Long York; his wife, Linda Faye York; one sister, Margaret Ann; and one brother, Wayne York.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Jacqueline York and Sam and Terri York; one brother, Elbert York; eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

According to York’s obituary, there is no memorial service scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Daniel Thomas Dunn of Denver, N.C., died September 20, surrounded by his immediate family. Dunn was 73.

A native of North Aurora, Ill., Dunn was the eldest of five children born to the late Dean and Dolores Dunn. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1972, Dunn served in Germany until 1974. Following his service in the Army, Dunn earned a degree from the University of Illinois. After college, Dunn and his wife, Kathy, spent time in St. Louis and Decatur, Ill., before settling in North Carolina, first in Huntersville and later in Denver.

Early in his career in the maritime industry, Dunn worked for CGB and for American River Transportation Company (ARTCo), where he served as a vice president. Then, in 1993, Dunn co-founded Sunn Enterprises with business partner Rodney Short. Sunn Enterprises was a forerunner of 14-foot hull barges, with the company’s first Trinity-built covered hopper barges delivered in early 1994. The company expanded its fleet of covered barges in 1995, 2007, 2010 and 2015.

Besides his professional career, Dunn also founded the Dunn Family Foundation, dedicated to helping grassroots organizations build stronger communities. Outside of those endeavors, Dunn enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveling with his wife and friends.

Dunn was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Debbie. He is survived by Kathy, his wife of 52 years; his children, Patrick and his wife, Whitney, Christopher and his wife, Kathryn, Andrew and Jennifer; and one granddaughter. Dunn is also survived by his siblings, David, Devin and Diana.

A visitation and Mass were held September 25 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Denver, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dunn’s honor may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.