James “Junior” Dunbar, 76, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2014 in the comfort and peace of his home surrounded by family. Junior was born August 12, 1937 in Winfield, Kan. to James C. Dunbar Sr. and Mary A. Wilson Linscott. His father passed away when he was very young and Neil Linscott was the man he called father.
Junior attended school in Lakeview and joined the Navy in 1955. On March 5, 1962 Junior married Caroline Story in Reno, Nev. He worked with the BLM and Forest Service while in Lakeview until moving to Central Point in 1996, where he became a heavy equipment operator with the 701 Operating Engineers. After retiring in 2000 he had a difficult time not being around people, so he took a job working the BBQ grill in front of Ray’s Market in Central Point.
Junior loved his family. He and Caroline would host sleep over’s of 25 to 30 girls at one time. He was at all of the girls’ events and coached their baseball team. He loved the chaos and excitement that always revolved around his girls. Junior also loved the outdoors, working in the yard, elk hunting in Eastern Oregon, fishing local lakes and riding quads with his wife and children at the Oregon dunes.
Junior is survived by his wife of 53 years, Caroline Dunbar; two daughters, Carla Landis and Tricia Whitehead; sons-in-law, Sid and Gary; two grandsons, Cody and Kyle; and one great-grandson, Camden.
The family held a service on Saturday, June 28, 2014 to celebrate Junior’s life. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Doernbecher Hospital and Hospice.