Betsy Loesel Dunn

Published 1:37 pm Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Betsy Loesel Dunn died October 19, 2010 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Landrum after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was 92. Born in Erie, Pa., April 4, 1918, she was raised by her mother and grandparents, Frederick and Clara (Pierce) Uhler. A high school valedictorian, she attended Northwestern University, where she joined Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She graduated from Flora Stone Mather College of [Case] Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1940. It was in Cleveland that she met Charles [Bud] Melbern Dunn Jr., whom she married at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, in 1942. The Dunns returned to Cleveland after WWII, where they raised their family and lived until retirement in 1978, when they moved to Hilton Head, S.C.

Betsy was fully engaged as a mother, and as a volunteer leader in non-profit and civic organizations including the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, and the Shaker Heights PTA. On weekends Betsy was busy as a hostess and at The Cleveland Skating Club with sports competition, in season playing platform tennis, curling, and tennis, which she continued into her 80s. After moving with her husband in 1997 to Tryon Estates in Columbus, she continued occasionally volunteer work and regular contract bridge.

Betsy was married for 66 years, and is survived by her son, C. Melbern Dunn of Seattle, Wa.; and her daughter, Pamela Gardner of Barrington, R.I. She has four grandchildren: Charles M. Dunn IV of Los Angeles, Calif.; Alexander A. Dunn of Kirkland, Wa.; Kimberly Gardner of New York, N.Y.; and Ryan Gardner of Providence, R.I.

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In her memory a contribution would be welcomed by Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Road, Columbus, N.C. 28722 or at www.hocf.org.