Cecil E. Dunkin

Cecil E. Dunkin, age 90, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at Ransom Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Family will meet with friends from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, September 11, 2015, at the mortuary. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. Cecil was born Wednesday, June 3, 1925, in Ottawa, Kansas, the daughter of Glen S. and Elizabeth (Willis) Gillette. She was a near lifelong resident of Franklin County, Kansas, living a few years in Wichita during World War II where she was hired to build bombers. She graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1943 and attended one semester at Ottawa University. Cecil and George met at Dutchmaid Ice Cream and later were united in marriage June 3, 1949, in Ottawa. He preceded her in death on March 30, 1995. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Elizabeth Gillette; and four sisters, Mary Alice Ackerman, Irene Lily, Jean Young, and Juanita Nielson. Survivors include her two children, Dale R. Dunkin and wife Marg, and Julia Privett and husband John all of Ottawa; two siblings, Willard Gillette of San Jose, California, and James Gillette and wife Hazel of Paola; grandson, Chad Payne, great-grandsons, Cory and Tyler Payne, and great-great grandson, Jace Payne. Cecil and George owned and operated Dutchmaid Ice Cream from 1950 to 1959. Cecil was also employed forty years as a cook for Ottawa USD 290 in the lunch program, retiring in 2006. She was the longest attending member of the Church of the Nazarene in Ottawa, where she taught a Sunday school class for over 50 years and participated in the J.C. Jane’s Service Club. Cecil loved to watch her children and grandchildren play sports, reading and baking. The family suggests memorial contributions to Church of the Nazarene or American Diabetes Association c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post condolences and memories on Cecil’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com.