Verny M. “Junior” Dunn, 92 of Muscle Shoals, died Sunday, November 2, 2014. There will be a graveside service Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 1:00 at Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield.
Junior was born to Verny M. Gilbert, Sr. and Eula Beatrice Self Dunn on 25th of July, 1922. He was the first professional baseball player to sign a contract while in flight, playing for the Birmingham Baron’s in 1940 and the Miami Flamingos in 1941 until enlisting in the Marines in 1942 where he served in the Marines 2nd Division known as the DUWKs. Returning home in 1945, he joined the Montgomery Rebels and then the Tallahassee Indians in 1946. Junior left baseball and began working for Mine Safety Appliances “MSA” in 1947 and remained there helping to improve the safety of the coal mines until he retired in 1987. In 1989 he moved from Kingsport, TN to Muscle Shoals to be close to his family.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Hilda Cooksey Dunn.
Survivors include his son, Walter Lee Dunn, Sr.; grandson, Walter Lee Dunn, Jr. and wife, Stephanie Lovvorn Dunn and their children, Katie and Christopher Dunn.
Pallbearers will be Christopher Dunn, Tab Lovvorn, James Borden, Jeff Kinsler, Steve Pina Ponce and Hal Milderger.
The family expresses special thanks to Becky, Jill, Tanya, Tabitha, Donna and everyone Alacare Hospice; Dr. David Bachofer; and caregivers, Lottie, Brenda and Charlie for all of your care for Junior.
