Tributes

Geraldine Redd Dunn, 89, of San Antonio, Texas, died Saturday, September 17, 2016 at her home surrounded by family after a long struggle with cancer. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dr. Jared M. Dunn and by her mother, Edith Hammond Redd, and father, Ray V. Redd. She is survived by: her two sisters, Margaret Thomas and Anita Feltis; her children, Kelly Terrano, Shannon Elledge, Casey Dunn, Kevin Dunn, Kerry Dunn, Robert Dunn, Elizabeth Dunn, Stacey Ellingson and Joseph Dunn, and twenty-seven grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces/nephews. Geraldine, or "Geri" as she was often called, was born April 16, 1927 in Moab, Utah as the firstborn child of Ray and Edith Redd. She grew up in Monticello, Utah and was graduated from Monticello High School when she was 18. While attending the University of Utah, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, she met her future husband, Jared M. Dunn. It was easy for people to remember them as they were the rare couple with the same first name: Jerry and Geri. They were married December 26, 1952 in Las Vegas, Nevada. While her husband got his doctorate in medicine she took care of two tiny children and ran the household on a tight budget. When her husband joined the Air Force after finishing school, she became a military wife with all the lonely hours attendant as he went to Vietnam and worked many weeks a year away from home on TDY. But she loved the United States and felt the sacrifices were worth it. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where through the years she served in such church positions as Ward Primary President, Ward Relief Society President and Stake Relief Society President. Geraldine and Jared had their marriage solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple in June of 1962 and their 3 children were sealed to them for time and all eternity. She bore 2 more sons in 1964 and 1966 respectively. In 1973 she and Jared were looking to adopt another child and found a case where 4 children were being put up for adoption from the same family. Mom and Dad were asked if they would like to adopt either 2 girls or 2 boys. They decided to adopt all 4 children, believing it was best to not have the children divided up and sent to different families. "Families are meant to be together forever," she said. "Not split apart and divided." She supported her children in all their efforts, serving as room mother, piano teacher, line-runner for school and church plays, fan of her sons' efforts on the gridiron and basketball court, and faithful letter writer to her sons, daughter and grandsons on their missions for the LDS church. She travelled all over the United States as the wife of an Air Force flight surgeon and even followed him out of her beloved America to West Germany for two years. There she learned how to drive a stick shift Volkswagen bug using international driving laws which she considered one of her hardest accomplishments! While there, the four adopted children were sealed in the Berne, Switzerland Temple to Geraldine and Jared and their 5 new brothers and sisters. It was one of the happiest days of her life, she always said. Mama/Grandma was the one who made Christmas celebrations so joyous; the holiday was always centered around Jesus Christ in whom she had great faith. She loved chocolate, tender steaks, mashed potatoes and gravy, shopping in stores and from catalogs with and without her daughters, reading scriptures and watching LDS Conference, Turner Cable movies, Antiques Roadshow and HGTV. She loved to cook and bake and was known around the neighborhood, schools and church for her "Dunn Buns" cinnamon rolls. Sunday dinners with the family were special. Even after the kids had grown, married and moved out they were welcome to come for Sunday dinner with the grandkids which made for a full and noisy house. Still, there was always room for her best friend, Maria Coates, and even others who needed love and a home cooked meal. Mother took the directive from the prophet "Every member a missionary" very seriously giving Books of Mormon to many people including all repairmen and salespeople who came to the house while bearing her testimony to them. She would also give pass-along cards to the customers and workers at H.E.B. grocery stores, but the management didn't find that appropriate for their establishment and shut her down. But that didn't bother her because she got the idea to put pass-along cards in all her bill payments! She instilled her love of the scriptures in her children by example and by clever stratagems. She would write favorite scriptures down on 3x5 cards and then tape them on the kitchen cabinets and in bedrooms and on mirrors. Most clever was her idea of taping the scripture cards on the back of the bathroom doors after removing all magazines. Then whenever you were sitting on the commode, she had a captive audience "forced" to read the scripture cards and, yes, eventually memorizing them! After Daddy died, she wrote down on the scripture cards inspiration she had received from the Holy Spirit as she poured out her heart in mourning to God. These are words spoken by Geraldine from beyond the grave: "You have been given much….be happy! Do not grieve; all is well." And the scripture card she and her offspring love from D&C 101:16: "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted….; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." Goodbye, blesséd mother, grandmother and friend. Rejoice! It will be but a little season and then, because of the redeeming love of our Savior Jesus Christ and our faithfulness, we will see you once again on the other side and the glorious morning of the first resurrection Viewing: Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, 3401 Cherry Ridge, Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. Services: Friday, September 23, 2016 at the LDS Meetinghouse, corner of St. Cloud/W. Sunshine at 11 a.m.

Tributes

Geraldine R. Dunn

April 16, 1927 - September 17, 2016