In Memoriam: James Dunbar “Dun” Stockwell

    James Dunbar Stockwell “Dun”, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at home on August 15, 2015 at the age of 66 after a valiant battle with mesothelioma cancer.  He was born in Baton Rouge, LA on October 12, 1948.  He was a lifelong resident of Central, LA.  Dun was a graduate of Central High School where he played basketball for the Wildcats and in 1965 helped his team win the District Championship.  Dun attended Southeastern Louisiana University and graduated with a Masters of Physical Education and Exercise Physiology. Dun’s early career began with the YMCAs in Baton Rouge, Birmingham AL, and Charlotte NC. As a branch director where he mentored and taught leadership skills to many young high school students and encouraged those students to attend the YMCA Blue Ridge Leadership School. Then, after moving back to Baton Rouge, he worked at Allied Chemical Corporation for two years.  He later went on to work for the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources in the Long Term Care Section.  Most of Dun’s career was spent as an administrator of several nursing homes, some of which included Hendersonville NC, New Orleans, Clinton, Hammond, Natchitoches, and many in Baton Rouge.  Dun loved his nursing home patients and employees.  His true focus was their care and concern and he kept their spirits lifted with jokes and playful teasing.  
    While working in North Carolina, Dun fell in love with the mountains of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Outside of spending time with his family, being in the mountains was his heaven on earth.  Each year for over 10 years, Dun would lead a group of “Feral Country Boys” to Mount Pisgah where they enjoyed white water rafting, zip lines, duckies, hiking, and camping.  Dun also enjoyed his yard and flower gardens and devoted many hours making things look just perfect. Dun recently rededicated his life to Christ and was baptized at his childhood church, Zoar Baptist Church in Central.  Family was a priority for Dun.  He loved nothing better than to have all the family over to his home for fried fish or boiled crawfish.  
    Dun fell in love with Sandra Bernard Stockwell in the seventh grade, married her in 1968 while he was away in college and she remained the center of his life for 47 years.  He is also survived by his children Richard “Richie” Stockwell, Stephanie Stockwell Hunter and husband Barrett, Natalie Stockwell and beloved family member Kris Blanchard as well as his grandchildren Shaunae Stockwell Borrego, Lance Stockwell, Carson Stockwell, Rachel Hunter, Annison Hunter, Nathan Hunter, Samantha Hunter, and great-grandson Landon Bonowicz.  Dun is also survived by his sisters Juanita Dean Dykes and Jeanie Valentine as well as a brother Lonnie Stockwell and his wife Maureen; sister-in-law Becky Kennison and brothers-in-laws Michael Bernard and wife Diana, Taylor Bernard and John Bernard and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, LaVerne and Leon L. Stockwell, mother and father-in-law Betty and Joseph Taylor Bernard, Jr., brothers-in-law Dennis Dykes and Michael Valentine and niece, Jennifer Valentine.  A Celebration of Dun’s Life will be held at Zoar Baptist Church, 11848 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70818 on Friday, August 21, 2015 with visitation starting at 9:00AM and a service to begin at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations check made to: Blue Ridge Leadership School Alumni Association (BRLSAA) and in the memo line put YMCA-Dun Stockwell Scholarship Fund. Mail to: Tom Whortan, 5930 Six Mile Lane, Louisville, KY 40218. We want to thank St. Joseph Hospice Carpenter House nurses and staff for their special care during his last few days.