MD E. Frank Dunton's Obituary
E. Frank Dunton, MD, a Dallas resident for over 55 years, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the age of 92. This complex man was born of simple means in Corsicana Texas, and was the elder of two children. True to the original meaning of “Dunton,” (dun+’tun’, meaning ‘settlement’) he forged new territory in all fields of endeavor and was a man of boundless talents, a true adventurer of both mind and physical experience. Dedicated to his country, his World War II service from 1942 to 1945 included the Army Air Corps, the Army and the Navy in which he served on four ships. After a mission in Burma with the Army Special Forces he was awarded the Presidential Certificate of Valor. Following the study of architecture at UT Austin, he went to medical school, attending both Columbia University in New York and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, graduating from the latter in 1953. His brilliance, artistry and inventiveness led him to a long career in Dallas as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, during which he spent many years volunteering at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children. Due to his spotless reputation, both locally and nationally, he was elected President of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from 1973-1974. Held in such high regard, he was asked to accredit hospital operating rooms until well into his 80’s. This multi-faceted man was often described as a modern-day da Vinci, whether due to his architectural designs, his surgical procedures, or his engineering and building a cabin himself in the mountains of Colorado at the age of 65. Following retirement from his plastic surgery practice in 1988, his creative talents turned to painting and sculpting. He became a noted artist and has artwork in permanent collections in Dallas, Mexico, the Art Museum of Crested Butte, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and the Eye Institute of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2002 he married the love of his life, Marion Ward in Dallas. Together they enjoyed many happy days in Crested Butte, on tennis courts and golf courses, and world travels. True to his continual adventurous nature, they celebrated his 80th birthday riding a zip line in Costa Rica; on his 85th birthday they camped in tents on the Moroccan desert; on his 90th birthday, he copiloted a biplane over the Arizona desert. He was an avid sportsman and well accomplished in tennis, golf, snow skiing and sailing. He loved beauty in all its forms and spent numerous years happily hiking in the mountains surrounding Crested Butte or in his earlier days, walking the fence line of the farm he owned outside of Dallas during the 1960s-1980s. He was warm, gracious, generous and genuine. He loved being surrounded by the energy of his large family who all loved him dearly. He is predeceased by his first wife, Helen Dunton Harrell, and his sister, Patti Allen. He is survived by his wife Marion Ward, and his children: Steven Frank Dunton, Richard Henry Dunton, Carol Dunton Hinton and Kathryn Dunton Hart; and five grandchildren: Allyson Dunton Hamilton, Adam Dunton, Erin Dunton, Reece Dunton and John Dunton; and his great grandchild, Brielle Hamilton. He will be greatly missed by both family and his wide circle of devoted friends. Their worlds will be duller without his shining presence. A memorial service with Honor Guard will be held at The Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home at 1PM on Saturday, June 11. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Park Cities Club from 6-8PM.
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