Woodrow Marks Dunkum Jr.

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Woodrow Marks Dunkum Jr., 71 of Dillwyn, passed away June 29. He was born March 29, 1953, in Charlottesville, and is predeceased by his parents, Woodrow M. Dunkum Sr. and Emma Louise Dunkum, and his brother, Leslie B. Dunkum.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Karen Norman Dunkum; children, Erin O’Brien (Tim) and Woody Dunkum (Courtney), and beloved grandchildren, Cormac, Claire, and his newest granddaughter due July 30th.

He experienced great joy in the last few years as his family grew and he loved being “Big Papa”.

Mark was a lifetime resident of Buckingham County, a member of First Baptist Church Dillwyn, where he served as a deacon and on numerous committees, a former Dillwyn volunteer firefighter, and the owner and operator of Dunkum Funeral Home, Inc.

Mark was a licensed Funeral Director for 50 years and he considered it a privilege to serve the citizens of Buckingham in their time of grief. Prior to the county’s 911 system being in place, the Funeral Home would receive emergency phone calls and then help dispatch fire and ambulance requests, sometimes giving rides to the hospital in the hearse. In 2012, Mark began working side-by-side with his wife, Karen, helping her learn the funeral business and quiet traditions his family established over 100 years ago. He was honored to be the “Country Undertaker”.

The family received friends on Tuesday, July 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Dunkum Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 3, at 11 a.m., at Dunkum Funeral Home with interment at Grove Church cemetery in Cumberland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church Dillwyn Repair Fund and Grove Cemetery Association.