Obituary of Gloria Ann Dunlap

Our mother, Gloria Ann (Jones) Dunlap, left to join our father and her heavenly father early May 20, 2021, due to complications in the sequelae of metastatic ocular melanoma. Her beloved family were with her at the end. Author Shel Silverstein said, “There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part. Just give me a happy middle and a very happy start.” And Gloria had a very happy start and a very happymiddle. Gloria Ann Jones Dunlap was born June 24, 1931, in Dixon, Illinois, the youngest of three children born to Timothy Cromwell Jones and Agnes Arvetta Seigling Jones. Her early childhood was spent in Cedar Rapids, and after a move to Iowa City, Iowa, Gloria attended Longfellow Elementary and Central Junior High schools. Gloria graduated from Iowa City High School in 1949 and attended the University of Iowa. She married her life-long love and partner, Paul Frederick Dunlap, of Iowa City, in 1949. Family was Gloria’s greatest joy. As their young family grew, Gloria made happy homes in several cities across the US following Paul’s work. She was first and foremost a devoted and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She treasured every moment with her family. She meticulously documented her children’s lineage for their memberships in the Mayflower Society and the DAR, and traveled to Wales with her daughters Sarah and Laura to explore family roots. After her youngest child started school, Gloria’s was, for many years, a teacher aide in several area elementary schools, after which she worked as an accounting clerk in the University of Iowa offices of Grant Accounting and Audio Visual/Media Resources, from which she retired in 1991. Throughout her life, Gloria was very active in leadership and activities at St. Mark’s and First Methodist Churches in Iowa City, duplicate bridge groups (achieving ACBL Life Master status), United Methodist Women’s group, Questors International, stock investors club, Johnson County Republican Women, the Iowa City High School Alumni Association, Mercy Hospital Guild, Red Hat Society, Project Green, the U of I, and others. Gloria was extensively involved in scouting throughout her life. As a scout leader for her daughter’s senior troop, made possible their dream trip to Our Cabana Girl Scout Guide House in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1973. She also was a den mother for her sons’ Cub Scout troops. Gatherings for family and holiday events were important to Gloria, and centered on good food and unmatched hospitality. Gloria loved hosting dinners, parties, events, groups and meetings of every sort for family and friends. Visits to her home were always delicious and welcoming events. Gloria was very artistic and skilled in home decorating, sewing, knitting, needlework, and especially creating holiday decor that she shared with grateful family and friends. Gloria loved life. She was a skilled gardener with a special love for growing roses. In addition to her talents as a homemaker, cook, crafter and gardener, she was a world traveler and was always ready for a trip, be it camping, cruising, or tramping among ancient ruins. Gloria is survived by her children, Sarah Jean Dunlap Hamann (Alan) of Northbrook, Illinois; Paul Frederick Dunlap, Jr. (Nancy) of Fort Worth, Texas; Dr. Laura Jane Dunlap, of Iowa City; and Charles Stuart Dunlap (Nell) of Des Moines, Iowa; and by grandchildren Matthew Paul Hamann (Laura) of Nashville, Tennessee; Katherine Elizabeth Dunlap of Atlanta, Georgia; Paul Frederick Dunlap, III, of Austin, Texas; Christopher Eugene Dunlap of Fort Worth, Texas; Michael Paul Dunlap of Des Moines, Iowa; Sandi Burnic of Ankeny, Iowa, and Samir Burnic (Dzenisa) of Ankeny, Iowa; and great-grandchildren Catherine Ann Hamann and Paul McMain Hamann of Nashville, Tennessee, all of whom she loved dearly. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Paul Frederick Dunlap, her parents, Timothy Cromwell Jones and Agnes Arvetta Seigling Jones, her sister Mary Ellen (Jones) Clark, her brother Robert Cromwell Jones, and many dear family and friends. Should friends desire, memorial contributions in Gloria’s memory may be made to charities that represent causes near and dear to Gloria’s heart and for which she has provided support for decades, including Veterans support organizations. Gloria truly enjoyed her life, and had very, very special thanks for all those who made it possible for her to continue that enjoyment in recent years, most especially her beloved daughter, Laura; her oncologist, Dr. Scott Miller; the dedicated staff at Mercy Infusion Center; neurologist Dr. Todd Ajax; interventional radiologist Dr. Shilang Sun; her family; and Dr. Robert C. Zwicki for his friendship and support. There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, dearest Momma, you will always be in our hearts. Goodbyes are not forever. They are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you until we meet again.