James Earl Dunn (J. Earl), 87, Hot Springs, AR, formerly of San Angelo, TX, went to be with the Lord, December 24, 2019, in Hot Springs, AR.
J. Earl was born August 3,1932, in El Paso, Texas, to James Coy and Gladys Marie (Epperson) Dunn. He was the oldest of 3 brothers. He grew up in El Paso and attended public schools from kindergarten through Junior Year of high school. He liked to state that after he got through with kindergarten that Texas did not have public kindergarten until his first grandchild attended kindergarten in 1985. He was raised by devout Christian parents and gave his heart to the Lord at the age of eight. He attended Grandview Baptist Church, El Paso, and was active in all educational organizations of the church includ-ing Sunday School, Church Training Union, and Royal Ambassadors (RA’s). where his Christian character was developed. In RA’s he developed his heart for missions that lasted a lifetime. As an 11-year-old, he represented his church in a BGCT Training Union scripture memorization competition in Dallas, where he finished second. He was a paperboy delivering El Paso morning and evening papers starting while in grade school, though his Junior year of high school. He was even able to purchase his own car as a 16-year-old, as well as help the family with expenses. The summer before his Senior year the family moved to Jal, New Mexco, where his father worked for El Paso Natural Gas. There he was able to participate in football, basketball, and baseball, which fulfilled a personal ambition.
He graduated from Jal High School (1950). He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University Texas El Paso, formerly Texas Western College, (1954), during which time he responded to God’s call to the gospel ministry. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree, (1958) later updated to Master of Divinity, and finally a Doctor of Ministry degree (1978).
He married his wife of 67 years, Paula Ann Beaty of El Paso, Texas, on November 14,1952. They had 3 children whom they raised primarily in San Angelo, Texas, where they resided for 52 years. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren all whom he loved dearly.
While at UTEP, J. Earl was active in the Baptist Student Union, serving as Missions Chairman and then President. He pastored churches at Hamilton and Dublin while in Seminary. After graduation he spent 4 years serving as Baptist Student Union director and Bible teacher at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX. He then became pastor of First Baptist Alpine, where he served for just over 3 years before coming to San Angelo, where he pastored Harris Avenue Baptist for 28 years. He led Harris Avenue in being the mother church of Southland Baptist Church, in establishing one of the first church-based day care and kindergarten centers in San Angelo, and in mission work in the US and beyond. Following his retirement from the full-time pastorate he continued ministering by being one of the first 25 certified ministers of the BGCT Intentional Interim Ministry. He helped churches address the issues which had caused the previous pastor to leave as well as questions, concerns, vision and the churches health, while they searched for their next pastor. Over 10 years he assisted churches in Del Rio, LaGrange, DeLeon, Seminole, San Antonio, Odessa, Midland and San Angelo. Once he retired from that work he was ordained and served as a deacon at Southland Baptist Church for 3 years. During his time in San Angelo he served the local Baptist Association in almost every leadership position, served as Trustee of Baptist Memorials Center, and led major mission teams to Brazil and Mexico. He also participated on mission teams to Australia, California, and Alaska. He served on the BGCT State Mission Commission, Christian Life Commission (chairman 2 years), and Executive Board. He also taught Bible courses in the Seminary Extension Center of the Concho Vally Baptist Association. He served the San Angelo community in a number of different roles and ways expressing his care and love for the people of San Angelo. He made lifetime friends wherever he went.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lawrence Leigh, brother and sister in law Robert Charles and Elizabeth Dunn, daughter in law Barbara Gallagher Dunn, and granddaughter Rachel Diane Dunn.
He is survived by his wife, Paula, Hot Springs, AR, sons and daughter in laws, Stephen Earl and Annette Anizan Dunn, Hot Springs, AR, David Michael and Ginger Grametbauer Dunn, Levelland, TX, and daughter Susan Kathleen Hicks, Chandler, AZ, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2020, at Southland Baptist Church, 4300 Meadowcreek Trail, San Angelo, Tx, 76904. A brief gathering of family and friends will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Water for All, International, in care of Southland Baptist Church.
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