Paul Dunlap

DUNLAP, Paul, age 87, of Dayton, OH, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Paul was born on November 21, 1938 to the late F. Willard and Mattie Dunlap in Wilmington, OH. He grew in Wilmington on his families’ farm and graduated from Wilmington High School before continuing his education at Wilmington College. Paul earned his B.S in Education from Wilmington before receiving his Master’s in Education from Wright State University. He enjoyed working in education and spent many years as a teacher and school principle before receiving his education specialist degree from the University of Dayton. A lifelong educator, he began his teaching career briefly in Trotwood Madison before moving home to Wilmington Schools, teaching industrial arts. He then went to Huber Heights School system as a vice-principle. Paul then served Bellbrook Schools where he was an elementary and middle school principal for 13 years, before his retirement after a total of 34 years in education.

Paul was a man with many hobbies and interests throughout his life. Firstly, he was a farmer for most of his life and spent countless hours working on his family century farm in Wilmington, alongside his brother Karl- a true labor of love.

A life-long outdoors enthusiast, he was a 4H leader with his son and daughter. He was a talented woodworker and was well known for his beautiful, hand-crafted clocks and furniture. Paul’s love of photography led him to start a photography business with his wife, Kaaren, and they enjoyed photographing weddings, families, graduation celebrations, and especially outdoor scenery. He did much of his photography while backpacking out west with Kaaren, visiting many national parks along the way. Both were active long-time members of David’s United Church of Christ in Kettering.

In his later years Paul and Kaaren enjoyed traveling and were especially fond of snow-birding in Riverest Park in Florida. Sports were important. He liked competition and camaraderie. It was there he took up shuffleboard and participated in tournaments, most notably winning a gold medal in the senior Olympics. When he wasn’t playing shuffleboard in Florida he enjoyed taking his family out boating on his beloved pontoon. Paul was an avid golfer and enjoyed organizing golf outings for his church and participating in numerous leagues in Dayton. He also found the time to learn the banjo and enjoyed playing with the Kettering Banjo Society. Most of all Paul was dedicated to his family and he always encouraged them to do their best. Mostly his family knows him as a humble and disciplined role model whose character will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Karl Dunlap.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Kaaren Dunlap; daughter, Cheryl Dunlap; son, Dr. Brian (Ann) Dunlap; grandchildren, Steven (Makenzie) Dunlap, Lucas Dunlap, Andrew Dunlap, and Stuart Dunlap; great-granddaughters, Madison and Aubrey Dunlap; stepchildren, Weston Mangold, Kenton Mangold, and Christy (John) Kaloukian; step-grandchildren, Valerie and Tyler Mangold, and Megan, Nicholas, and Elizabeth Kaloukian; sister-in-law, Helen Dunlap; and numerous extended family and friends.

A visitation will be held from 1-2pm on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at David’s UCC, 170 W. David Rd, Kettering, OH 45429, with a funeral service to follow at 2pm. A livestream will be available via David’s UCC YouTube channel. Inurnment at David’s Cemetery, Kettering, at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The American Lung Association or David’s United Church of Christ, Kettering.