Milford Lynn (Red) Dunbar, age 90, a longtime resident of Chocowinity, died Sept. 23, 2018, at Vidant Inpatient Hospice, Greenville, after a brief illness.

Mr. Dunbar was born May 7, 1928, in Currituck County to the late Dora Cuthrell Dunbar and Leon Nash Dunbar. He attended Beaufort County schools and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On Oct. 3, 1953, he married the love of his life, the former Reba Jefferson, who preceded him in death on April 12, 2010. Mr. Dunbar was a devoted and loving husband, father to his only daughter, grandfather to his only granddaughter, and great-grandfather to his two great-grandsons.

His only daughter Deloris loved and cared for Mr. Dunbar in his final years as his health began to fail, and she was at his side and holding his hand when God took him home. In the final days of his life, Mr. Dunbar was constantly surrounded by his loving sisters and friends, all who will miss him greatly.

Mr. Dunbar was a man of strong faith, in God, family and his community. He served as a Chocowinity Town Commissioner for more than 40 years and also served as Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem. As an active member of Haw Branch Church of Christ for over 60 years, Mr. Dunbar served as both Deacon and Elder.

Mr. Dunbar was a self-made man, leaving school at a young age to take a job in order to help his mother support his seven younger sisters after his father died at a young age due to complications following a stroke. One of the accomplishments in which Mr. Dunbar took great pride was that he built his mother the first home she could call her own. He always enjoyed his pet cat (there were many), travel, church, gospel and country music, vintage cars, time with family and corny jokes. Mr. Dunbar constantly talked of his granddaughter Candice, who was the apple of his eye, and later he mused to everyone about his lovely great-grandsons and how much he enjoyed seeing them.

He began his professional career with Edinburg Furniture in Chocowinity, working as a supervisor for 17 years before starting D&H Red & White with his brother-in-law Bonner Hollis, after they purchased Mills Grocery. Owning the grocery store fulfilled one of Mr. Dunbar’s childhood dreams, and the store grew into a cornerstone business in the local community. Further expanding his entrepreneurial dreams, Mr. Dunbar purchased Choco Mart in Chocowinity and operated this business until his retirement at age 83.

In addition to his wife, parents and one infant brother, he was predeceased by four brothers-in-law: Donald Hardy, John Jefferson, Bonner Hollis and Jerry Ward. Survivors include his loving and devoted daughter, Deloris Creasman, of Blounts Creek; one granddaughter, Candice Creasman Mowrey (Dan), of Raleigh; two great-grandsons, Wesley and Isaac Mowrey; seven sisters, all of whom he loved greatly, Ruby Ensley (Lou), of Hampton, Virginia, Doris Hollis, of Chocowinity, Elsie Jefferson, of Grimesland, Joyce Ward, of Washington, Betty Chandler (Earl), of Chocowinity, Patricia Hardy and Arlene Jones (Kenny), also of Chocowinity; also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, his friends and extended family members Joe Pritchard, Betty O’Neil, Angela Andrew and his cat Tiger.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Haw Branch Church of Christ, officiated by Jason Kirkman. Burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens.

Greg Purser, Jerry Jefferson, Gary Hollis, Terry Ward, Tony Ward, Timmy Jefferson, Jeffery Hardy and David Smith will serve as pallbearers. Mayor Jimmy Mobley, Billy Albritton, Louise Furman, Casey Langley and Nathaniel Williams will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. at the church Wednesday prior to the service and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Haw Branch Church of Christ, 1501 Haw Branch Church Road, Chocowinity, NC 27817.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Dunbar family.