John Walter Dumbauld's Obituary
Beloved brother, father, grandfather, and friend, John Walter Dumbauld (79) died in his home Friday, January 16 (2015).
Born Aug. 29, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio to navy physician, Dr. Carl Mathews Dumbauld and his wife, Phyllis Elizabeth Miller Dumbauld, John spent his childhood traveling with his Military family and living in places as varied as Deshler(Ohio), Corpus Christie (TX), Shanghai (China), The Panama Canal Zone, and Jacksonville and Gainesville (FL).
With his elder sister Joan as his close companion, John received a strong and varied education during his travels. He graduated from Bolles High school (Jacksonville, FL) in 1953, received his BS from the University of FL in 1957 (Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology), and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Education (Counseling Ed) there in 1967.
After active service in the Army and time in the Army Reserves (1957-66), John brought his deep sense of curiosity and love of learning to W.B. Ray High School in Jacksonville, FL and Flagler Palm Coast Junior/Senior High School in Bunnell, FL where he taught chemistry and biology. In 1968, John accepted a position as Professor of Behavioral Science at Santa Fe Community College where he served in a variety of teaching and counseling capacities for three and a half decades, including advisor and coach for the Santa Fe debate team and counselor at the Disabilities Resources Center. A car accident forced him to retire in 2003.
John was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church and an active member of the congregation and Folk Choir at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville for over four decades. He met his wife, Barbara Elizabeth Homan Dumbauld, there and they married in August of 1982. She was the love of his life.
A talented singer and lover of all sorts of music, John gave his voice to a number of church and civic choirs over the years. He loved to fly and, for a time, owned his own plane. His obsession with restoring old Mercedes was well known as was his love of motorcycles, road-trips, silly jokes, and dogs.
Preceding him in death (in addition to his parents) was his beloved wife Barbara (Sept. 1982).
Those who remain to remember John’s life are his sister, Joan B. Dumbauld of Gardena, CA; his step-son Chris Homan and wife Lucy of St. Petersburg, FL; his step-daughter Beth Homan and husband Sean Meyers of Salisbury, NC; his adored 4-year-old granddaughter, Emmaline Meyers, of Salisbury, N.C.; Numerous life-long friends, confidants, and loving care-givers; and his constant companion, Rozy the cat.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Friday, February 6 (2015) at 2pm with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Foster Parents, Veterans for Peace, or the ASPCA.
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