James Allan Dunn Jr.

James Allan (Jim) Dunn Jr., a long-time resident of Salisbury, died on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Novant Health Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House. Born June 30, 1939, he was the youngest of three children of the late J. Allan and Lois Dunn of Salisbury. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his two sisters, Lois Dunn Lore and Mary Dunn Parker Goodman. Mr. Dunn is survived by his high school sweetheart and beloved wife, Rachel Allen Dunn, who he loved with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns. They were married on June 30, 1962, at Stallings Memorial Baptist Church in Salisbury. He is also survived by their two sons: Andrew of Philadelphia, PA, and William and his wife Shannon of Charlotte, NC, along with their two daughters, Katherine and Elisabeth, and their sweet dog, Daisy. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Educated in Rowan County and Salisbury City Schools, he was a 1957 graduate of Boyden High School. In 1960, he graduated from Catawba College with a BA degree in Political Science. In December 1961, he enlisted in the NC Air National Guard, 263rd Communications Squadron, being honorably discharged in 1967 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was later employed for three years as a sales representative with Lever Brothers Company. He subsequently chose a career as a City Planner with the NC Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance, where he worked for 36 years until his retirement in 2002 as Chief Planner of the Salisbury Regional Office. During his retirement years, Mr. Dunn and his wife volunteered at Rowan Helping Ministries Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels Rowan. He was a life-long member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and served on the parish vestry for six years. In 1977, he was elected to the Salisbury City Council and served in that capacity for ten years. He was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem from 1981 to 1985. Mr. Dunn was instrumental in the establishment of the Salisbury Community Appearance Commission and the city’s entry into the National Main Street Program. In 1988, he was honored by the city council when they established the James Allan Dunn Jr. Community Appearance Award that was to be presented each year to an individual who enhanced the quality of life in the city through their community appearance or downtown improvement efforts. During the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Dunn was active in the local and statewide historic preservation and downtown revitalization movements, and received numerous awards including: The Clement Cup; The Ruth Coltrane Cannon Award; The Main Street Citizen of the Year; The City of Salisbury Mayor’s Cup; and Southern Living Magazine’s Outstanding Southerner Award. In 2002, he was awarded the State of North Carolina’s most prestigious award, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine which is given to those who have a profound record of extraordinary service to the state. Mr. Dunn’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Novant Rowan Medical Center and the Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House for their loving care. A Burial of the Dead service will be observed at a later date at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 132 West Council Street. The family will greet friends immediately after the service in the parish hall. Internment will be conducted in an earlier private graveside service for members of the family at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House (www.supportnovanthealth.org/rowanhospicememorial), Rowan Helping Ministries (www.rowanhelpingministries.org) and/or Meals on Wheels Rowan (www.mowrowan.org). Summersett Funeral Home is assisting the Dunn family with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

James Allan Dunn Jr.

June 30, 1939 - June 11, 2026