Benny Dunn

Benny Ivan Dunn left us to join our heavenly father on March 9th, 2024 after a sudden illness. He was 70 years old.

Benny was born on February 17th, 1954 in Mountain City, TN to Charles & Blanche Hartman Dunn. He was the fourth oldest out of 9 children and grew up as a loving brother to his siblings until his final breath.

Benny grew up in Neva, and was an incredible athlete for the Neva Warriors basketball team. He was also a champion swimmer over multiple years at CMB Camp. He graduated from Johnson County High School in 1972 and began working on the factory line at the Mountain City Glove Plant, and later at Burlington Industries.

When the plant closed, Benny turned a hobby into a career. He developed a keen eye for finding, collecting, and selling some of Appalachia's many treasures. Benny traveled throughout east Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southwest Virginia buying and selling Civil War relics, Native American artifacts, gold, jewelry, tools, cameras, glassware, cars, coins, and Appalachian antiques. On many Friday nights, he could be found wheeling and dealing at the Mountain City Auction House.

He later joined his two sons in real estate, buying and selling houses and renting out properties to families in the community. He often operated through "handshake deals" that included a dash of, "pay me when you can," for those going through tough financial times. His brother-in-law, Jack Stout, said that Benny was the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back. But if you traded with him, he always came out ahead.

Benny was a skilled card player and enjoyed a weekly Pinochle game with friends and family. He remained close to his brothers and sisters and made it a point to attend Sunday night dinners and holiday get-togethers with them and their expanding families over the years. No matter how large the family became, it somehow still managed to pack, shoulder-to-shoulder, into one living room for Christmas dinner at Benny's house.

Out of all his many talents, he was the absolute best, loving husband to Donna and father to Jason and Jeremy. Together, he and Donna drove thousands of miles to watch their sons play everything from baseball to basketball and football. Benny accommodated Donna's love of animals by providing a loving home, out of the often-brutal Mountain City cold, to stray dogs, cats, and even a pig! (He often complained...but always accommodated.) He was there for his family through all the ups and downs and was a rock for Donna when they suffered every parent's worst nightmare; the loss of a son.

Benny is survived by the love of his life, Donna, and their eldest son, Jason. He is also survived by his brother, Steve Dunn, and sisters, Barbara Dunn and Sharon Stout, his mother-in-law, Gladys Gambill, aunts Mary Hughes, Mildred Martin, and Betty Youngman, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bill Stout, Jace Stout, Sam Dunn, Stephin Dunn, Tim Mullins, Pete Wagner and Robert Johnson

Honorary Pallbearers are Jack Stout, Frank Bass, J.R. Tester, Doug Kerce, Charles Dunn, Woody McLaurin, Marty Pennington, Dan Kilday, Ronnie Wilson and Ronnie Hollie.

Preceding him in death are his youngest son, Jeremy, his parents, Charles and Blanche, and his siblings, Jim, Dale, Roby, Cliff, and Jane

Funeral service for Benny will be conducted at 7 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at Hux & Lipford funeral Home with Michael Icenhour and  Bud  Gentry officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 pm - 7 pm prior to the funeral service.  Graveside service  and burial will be held at 11 am on Friday, March 15, 2024 at The Dunn Memorial Park in Forge Creek.

Online condolences and memories may be sent to the family at www.huxlipfordfh.com