Harold Earl Dunlap

Harold Earl Dunlap died on May 6 in Durham, NC.  He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on February 20, 1931.  After graduating from Haskell High School and University of Tulsa he attended University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.  

While in medical school, he married M. Jean McCoy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Christmas Day, 1954.  For the 58 years of their marriage, he loved her dearly. 

In his youth, he discerned a call to serve the church as a medical missionary and went to medical school to fulfill that purpose.  Following a surgery residency at Cleveland Clinic he turned his attention to preparation for mission work with the Presbyterian Church.  In February of 1963 he and his family left for Iran where he served as a surgeon in Christian Hospital in Hamadan until 1967.    

He practiced general surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, specializing in burn care.  Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Baltimore County. 

Gardening gave him great joy.  In Baltimore, he planted a vegetable garden, berry bushes, and fruit trees which delighted his grandchildren.  In Durham, he planted peanuts, sesame seeds, cotton, flax, popcorn and lots of cleome. Other hobbies included woodworking and birdwatching.  His great curiosity was expressed in his interest in local history, Presbyterian history, crops, watersheds, and geography.  He loved the Presbyterian Church which he served as an elder, taught Bible Study, and volunteered in local ministries to the community.   

He was known for his calm demeanor, patience, kindness, concern for others, and love of God.   

Harold is survived by his children, Susan Jane Dunlap (Prasad Kasibhatla) and Paul Earl Dunlap of Durham, and Kent Donovan Dunlap (Terri Ann Williams) of West Hartford, Connecticut; grandchildren Anna Kasibhatla (Ruben Cruz) of Durham, Ruth Dunlap and Luke Dunlap of West Hartford, and Samuel Dunlap of Chicago.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202, presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking; and First Presbyterian Church, Durham, 305 East Main St., Durham, NC  27701, firstpres-durham.org.  He was preceded in death by his wife, M. Jean Dunlap.