Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Violet (Vi) Joyce Bell Dunn died peacefully in her home on December 7, 2014 in The Dalles, Oregon after a long-fought and courageous battle with lupus.
Vi was born on February 23, 1936 in Mapleton, Oregon to Nick and Pearl (Hurn) Andrews. She graduated from Elmira Union High School in 1953 and attended the University of Oregon majoring in music. She married Paul Bell in 1955 and they made their first home in Veneta,
Oregon. They started their family in Eugene and lived in that area for a number of years. They moved to Eastern Oregon settling in The Dalles in 1966. Vi’s top priority was raising
her family, but she also worked as a Duty Assistant at Joseph G. Wilson Elementary School, an Orthodontist Assistant, and the Park Manager at Toll Bridge Park in Parkdale, Oregon. Her first husband died in 1977. Vi married Richard (Rich) Dunn in 1980 in The Dalles.
Vi was a fun-loving person who enjoyed spending time with her family. She was always planning and looking forward to family gatherings and reunions. One of Vi’s favorite pastimes
was traveling in the motorhome with Rich to go camping and fishing. Vi was also an accomplished musician and artist. She was the pianist and a vocalist for the Young at Heart singing group. Vi was proud of her Greek heritage and told many stories about her father who traveled from Greece to the U.S. as a young man. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and enjoyed participating in the Lydia Circle bible study group.
Vi is survived by her husband, Rich Dunn. Also surviving are her sons and daughters-in-law Paul and Debbie Bell Jr. of Monmouth; Mike and Tami Bell of St. Maries, Idaho;
David and Kelli Bell of Madras; daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Pat Ryan of The Dalles; step-sons and wives Rod and Jen Dunn of The Dalles; Raymond and Teresa Dunn of
Hermiston; and stepdaughter and husband Shelly and Bill Frost of Hermiston. She is also survived by her brother Henry Sindt of St. Maries, Idaho, 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband Paul Bell Sr., her step-son
Richard Dunn Jr., her grandson Jacob Bell, and her great-grandson Myles Watts. She was also preceded in death by brothers Johnnie and Nicky Andrews and Oliver Sindt as well as sisters Alice Keeler, Anna Zollo, Betty Noice, Dorris Sindt, Kitty Ream, Opal Ware, and Stella Derry.
A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church at 101 West 10th Street, The Dalles, Oregon with Pastor Maggie Rourk officiating.
A gathering of family and friends will follow at the church. The viewing is from 10:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11 at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home, 1100 Kelly Avenue, The Dalles. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Molly’s Fund Fighting
L u p u s a t w w w. mollysfund.org. The family would like to thank Heart of Hospice and the
