Robert Shields Dunyon

Robert Shields Dunyon passed away on October 5, 2024, at the grand old age of 99, in Draper, Utah. This is the same city he was born in almost 100 years ago. He was holding out for his 100th birthday celebration next year, but life had other plans. Robert came to earth on May 17, 1925, as the second son of Claudia Sandy Shields and Lawrence Cody Dunyon. He married Sharon Athena Webb (Kunkel) on April 10, 1964. He worked for the phone company almost all his working life and retired in 1985. Dad had an instant family upon marriage as he became the father of Mark (9) and Sandy (6). He took to being a father like a sailor takes to the ocean. It was one fun vacation after another and he enjoyed these times as much as us kids—Grand Canyon, San Francisco, the California coast, the Redwoods, Disneyland, Yellowstone, just to name a few. Robert and Sharon had two more children who wanted to join the fun: Jodi Lynne and Robert Christian. Sadness fell upon the family when Jodi passed away at age 3. It was a dark time, but Dad remained strong and kept his family moving forward. Dad served in the Navy in WWII. He was the bugler onboard the USS Fanshaw Bay. “He put the boys to sleep every night and woke them up the same way in the early light!” His bugle is still a family treasure. He fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in WWII. We all loved hearing his stories of the war. We are proud and grateful for his service. Robert attended Jordan High School before he joined the Navy. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and went through the temple for the first time when he was 87 years old. He was a man who had a testimony of a loving God and had never wavered in his faith of life after death. Robert is survived by Mark (Michelle) Kunkel, Sandy (Kent) Nickell, Christian (Amy) Dunyon, six grandchildren: Heidi, James, Tye, Mark, Colby, and Rylan. He has thirteen great-grandchildren, one of which was born in July of this year. He has two loving nieces and a brother-in-law. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sharon, his sweet daughter, Jodi, and many family members and was the last remaining of his siblings. As Robert’s family, we want to thank kind friends who came to visit him often—Morris Darrus and Mark Peterson. We want to thank Shauna and several others at Renew Hospice for their kind care and concern for Dad until his passing. There will be a small service on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Serenity Funeral Home located at 13863 South 2700 West in Bluffdale, Utah. There will not be a viewing. Dad will be laid to rest at the South Jordan Cemetery located at 10630 South 1055 West in South Jordan. Please share memories and condolences at www.serenityfhs.com.

Robert Shields Dunyon

May 17, 1925 - October 5, 2024