Carl W. Dunn, 96 of Sturgeon passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico Missouri.

Family and friends are invited to Carl's Life Celebration at 11:30 AM Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at Fenton Kendrick Funeral Home in Centralia. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Centralia city cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday at the Funeral Home.

Carl Wilford Dunn was born in Charlotte, NC on May 7, 1929 to Henry Eugene Dunn and Candace Ollie Hefner Dunn. He graduated from Tech High School in 1947 but started working early in life. He worked delivering packages by bicycle across Charlotte at age 13, then started at Carolina Metal after graduation running a 360-ton press, making oil filters and school bus parts. He was a proud veteran who served in Germany from 1951 to 1953 in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

Once he returned home, he met the love of his life, Marlene Loveless. He loved to tell their story of her little sister, Sue,  running out to greet him as he walked past Marlene's house and asking him if he would like to go on a hayride on Halloween (with her older sister). He agreed to go and so their first date was on Halloween of 1953. They were engaged and married in York, SC on Friday the 13th of 1954. They were dedicated to each other and celebrated 71 years of marriage last August.

Carl often gave his testimony. He was saved "because Marlene always hounded him to go to church with her."  He felt God's overwhelming power one Sunday and dedicated himself and his life completely to God. After Martha was born, he was blessed with a job at the US Post Office which helped them "get back on their feet."  He worked as a postal clerk for 32 years and received many awards from his postal work but his health forced him to retire in June 1989.

He was fascinated with farming and the mid-West and had transferred to Missouri in 1973, bringing his family to Centralia in January of 1974. There he and Marlene raised pigs and cattle which he enjoyed.  Retirement allowed them to travel, square dance, and to enjoy grandchildren and friends. He loved First Baptist Church of Centralia and the many friends that he considered family there. He also enjoyed visiting the morning "McDonald's Coffee Club" and the close friendships he developed there and with others in Centralia.

Carl was an avid reader and enjoyed studying any type of financial, agricultural or scientific topics that interested him. He studied his Bible daily. Carl was also an avid gardener. He and Marlene loved giving from the abundance of their efforts.

Together he and Marlene had one daughter, Martha Jane Sydow (Gerry) and 3 grandsons: Aaron (Sara), Trenton (Courtney) and Travis (Hannah). They have 10 great-grandchildren Grace, Sophia, Lexi, Brendyn, Brilynn, Zoie and Norah Jane, Hope, Genevieve, and Issac. Carl was a wonderful father who taught his daughter to love life and others. He took time to play, teach and show love. He became a grandfather and great-grandfather who did the same. Carl loved visits from his grandchildren and was always interested in what they were doing in life. He was a prayer warrior and poured out his heart in prayer for them and for many friends or those in need. He prayed for babies before they arrived, most recently little Isaac. He was thrilled to hear he had arrived safe and sound.

Carl's life became restricted by his health but he continued to gracefully accept each change, giving thanks to God in all difficulties and being grateful for his dedicated family, many friends who visited, sent cards and for all his caregivers. He loved others and his greatest hope was that all his family and friends would join him in heaven for eternity and that no one would wait too late to accept Christ. For years, he's looked forward to heaven where the Bible promise of  a new resurrected body. He has exchanged his cross for a crown. He has left an indelible mark on the lives of many through his example of unconditional love, He was dedicated to his Lord, his beautiful wife and daughter and his entire family. Please remember all the stories, the "Irish humor", Carl's willingness to help anyone he could, and the need to practice forgiveness of others.

He followed Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing one another in love."

Let's remember his morning quote: "Today is the day which the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it." We are here to celebrate Carl's life, remember him well and as he would say, "God bless."