Maynard (Mike) L. Dunn, Jr.

Maynard (Mike) L. Dunn, Jr., 69, of Rochester, Pennsylvania died at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on November 6, 2019 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Mike was born on August 22, 1950 in Maryville, Tennessee and is the son of the late Maynard L. Dunn, and Sina Kathleen Hunnicutt Dunn.

Mike was a long-awaited child, being born when Maynard and Kathleen were in their mid-40s. He was inquisitive and clever and learned to read at 4, Kathleen taught him before there were official “home schools”. He read a lot and was interested in everything he could dismantle. He loved and played with his cousins from Elizabethton, especially Margaret Ann and Susan, they were buddies, wearing their Fox Coats. The kids originated these outfits for exploring. Mike liked to do many things and got into caving in HS. He and his Maryville HS friends spent many dangerous weekends in the mountains causing much worry back in town. Probably because of this he began to be interested in rocks. There was a huge collection in the basement, which supplied material for all the science fairs for which he and his daddy built displays. From this independent study he earned scholarships, choosing to go to Virginia Tech. During HS he also attended The Citadel summer camps, becoming friends with the great Gen. Mark Clark of WWII fame. He was a top student and in the band.

Enrolling in Virginia Tech, he saw his first computer (room sized)! That also directed his career.

During his college days, his sister began telling him about her new faith in Christ, and he desired to know more; Mike took a semester off from school, toured Europe & joined Nancy’s family in Germany. He went on to Switzerland to learn from the great Francis Schaffer at L’Abri and studied the Bible in earnest. He was so excited about his faith he went back to school solidly grounded in God’s Word. About that time, he met Margaret (Margie) who swept him off his feet!

Mike graduated from the geology program at Virginia Tech in 1974. While pursuing his passion for geology, he had fallen in love with a fellow geologist, who has been his wife of almost 46 years, Margaret Lee Hensley. They were married in 1973 and moved to the Pittsburgh area in 1974 where each have enjoyed careers in geology.

Mike was a Federal public servant for 45 years. He began his career at the U.S. Bureau of Mines and was known for his efforts as a field geologist. Mike spent the last 34 years as a GIS expert for the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. There he mastered three-dimensional computer modeling, building a professional rapport with hundreds of peers from Federal and state agencies as well as academia and non-profit organizations. He most enjoyed sharing his sweeping knowledge with others both in the classroom and through daily contacts where he was sought for his expertise. Given a challenge, he would doggedly pursue solutions. His co-workers have stated that Mike leaves a large open space in the office that no one will ever fill.

With his powerful intellect and memory, like an Encyclopedia Britannica, Mike enjoyed engaging friends and family in thought-provoking dialogue and competition. He spiced up family gatherings with his broad scope of knowledge and love of cooking, while lighting up the room with his radiating personality and quick wit.

Family events featured Mike – entertaining the children, eating hot peppers, cooking, just fun. About 16 years ago Mike and Margie joined his sister and her husband for a mission trip in Bonaire, with great Christian fellowship and rewarding hard labor.

Mike was so secure in his belief in the Lord. His family is grateful to God for the gift of Mike for even a short time, and they know where he is today – absent from the body is present with the Lord.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Margie’s parents, Margaret Lee Hensley and Col. Robert W. Hensley, USAF (Ret.) of Bluefield, WV.

Family who survive to cherish the memory of Mike are his beloved wife Margaret (Margie) Lee Hensley; his sister, Nancy Dunn Hancock, Jacksonville, AR; nieces Nancy (Kathy) Oaks, Maryville, TN; Karen Harris and husband John, Leesburg, VA; and Mary Hoffman and husband Dave, Chattanooga, TN; nephews John Hancock and wife Beth, Gilbert, AZ; and Mark Andrew Hancock. Additionally, there are 12 great nieces and nephews- Melanie, Rachael, Jacob, Rebekah, Brendan, Elisabeth, Jonathan, Michael, Anna, Sarah, Leah, and Olivia; and his close Hunnicutt and Lawson cousins.

- all will painfully miss his genuine love and laughter, Mike was unique, a true gift from God!

On November 16, 2019, service will be held at McAmmon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in Maryville, TN at 12:30 pm. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers please donate in Mike’s name to Lustgarten Foundation https://www.lustgarten.org/donate/