Kenneth Meeks Dunn

Kenneth Meeks Dunn died on April 2, 2016 in hospice. He was 92 years old and a resident of Edgewood Summit in Charleston. Ken was a proud native of the rural community of Pliny, WV, one of the state’s most devoted Mountaineers and a talented civil engineer. Born October 20, 1923, in Pliny, he graduated from Point Pleasant High School, where he met his future wife, Mary Stanley. Following three years as a B-17 navigator during World War II, he attended Marshall University and received his BSCE from WVU in 1950. A Registered Professional Engineer since 1951, Ken had a 34-year career improving the water distribution, storm and sanitary sewer systems across the state. After working with private firms and the Road Commission as a District Engineer, Director of Prison Labor Division and State Equipment Engineer, he formed the Kenneth M. Dunn Company in 1959 and built it into one of the leading utility contracting firms in West Virginia. He was inducted as a charter member of the Civil Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni of WVU in 2005. His passion was farming in Mason County where he enjoyed spending time at his home place. Ken served as president of the WV Contractors Association and on the board of directors of the American Road Builders Association, the Associated General Contractors of America and Kanawha Banking and Trust. He was the treasurer for John D. Rockefeller’s two gubernatorial campaigns. Governor Rockefeller appointed him to the Board of Regents and Governor Gaston Caperton appointed him the first Secretary of the Department of Transportation. He was a long-standing member of Highlawn Presbyterian Church in St. Albans. Ken was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary, and his son Randall Keith Dunn. He is survived by four children: Virginia Ellen Dunn of San Diego, Kendra Lee Dunn of Philadelphia, Charles Stanley Dunn (Jill) of South Charleston and Martha Louise Dunn of Philadelphia; a daughter-in-law Patti Dunn Childs of Athens, GA; three grandchildren; Kenneth Carter Dunn of Athens, GA, Emily Dove Dunn of Gahanna, OH and Mary Rose Dunn of South Charleston; companion Carolyn Smithers of St. Albans; and caregiver Shirley Stone of South Charleston. Funeral service will be held at 11:00am Thursday April 7, 2016 at Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane with the Rev. Nancy Didway officiating. Burial will follow in the Bowcott Cemetery at Mt. Union United Methodist Church, Pliny. Visitation will be from 6-8pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at WVU or Highlawn Presbyterian Church in St. Albans. Friends and family are encouraged to leave memories of Ken on his tribute page at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 3941 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane is honored to serve the Dunn family.

Kenneth Meeks Dunn

October 20, 1923 - April 2, 2016