SYRACUSE — The Rev. Richard D. “P.D.” Dunning, 84, Milford, passed away at 10:25 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017, at his home. He was born Sept. 10, 1932, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Thomas Jefferson “T.J.” and Bertha Smith Dunning. He graduated in 1950 from Atchison (Kan.) High School; Midland University in Fremont, Neb., with his B.A. degree; and also attended Central Seminary, Fremont. On Aug. 1, 1954, in Atchison, he married Esther L. Shumaker, who survives. He moved to the Milford area 30 years ago from Sunrise Beach, Mo. He retired in 2001 as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Syracuse, after 15 years. He formerly served as pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Middlebury; Grace Lutheran Church, Elkhart; and Kent Memorial Lutheran Church, Sunrise Beach. He served as interim pastor for First English Lutheran Church, Goshen, and substituted in various local Lutheran churches. He served 43 years in church ministry and had five building projects at those churches. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Syracuse; Alpha Psi Omega national honorary dramatic fraternity; a volunteer usher at the Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, for 15 years; and was an avid fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Esther Dunning, Milford; a daughter, Robin (spouse Rick) DuBois, Dexter, Maine; a son, Richard (DeAne Lagerquist) Dunning II, Northfield, Minn.; a grandson, Thomas Bjorn Lagerquist Dunning; and a sister, Mary Zabrosky, Morristown, Tenn. He was preceded by his parents and a brother, Thomas Eugene Dunning. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church, 203 E Main St., Syracuse, with Sister Nora Frost, chaplain of Goshen Hospital, officiating. Private family burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Atchison, on Friday. ***** Memorials to Grace Lutheran Church, 203 E. Main St., Syracuse, IN 46567; or Goshen Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 723, Goshen, IN 46527. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church. To send condolences to the family in Mr. Dunning’s memory, visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
