Loretta Dunbar Obituary

Loretta "Skip" Nancy Dunbar, 82, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022 at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise, Arizona. She was born on August 24, 1939 to the late Franklin James and Loretta Olga (Shaw) Cates in Kansas City, Kansas. As a child, Skip grew up spending a lot of fun time with numerous cousins in and near Liberty, Missouri. In 1957 Skip graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas where she was in the Red and Black Chorus and Chesty Lion Pep Squad. Following her graduation she worked at Hallmark Cards and Weavers Clothing. On December 18, 1970 she married Charles Hayes Dunbar in Lawrence growing their family with three daughters from previous marriages. Skip's later careers included Administrative Assistant at South Junior High School, support for her husband's family trucking company, W.A. Dunbar & Son Excavating and Asphalt Co. and bookkeeper for their family owned storage facility. She had a passion for golf and enjoyed her ladies nine hole golf outings. She traveled with her husband, friends and family to Omaha for the horse races, Arizona for golf, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and California to visit their grandchildren with trips to Disneyland, the Rose Bowl Parade and many cities, towns and beaches in Southern California. In 2000 they retired to Sun City West, Arizona where you could find them on the golf courses or taking trips all across the state to enjoy its beauty. They always supported the KU Jayhawks in some form or fashion with flags waving on game day dressed in all KU sports attire.

Skip is survived by her loving spouse of 51 years, Charles; her brother, Harry Franklin Cates of Las Vegas, their daughter 's Chris Nieder (Randy) Johnson; Beth Dunbar (Allen) Crist, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many other loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter Brenda Dunbar Swartz, her father, mother, sisters, Georgia Gray, Edna Leboeuf and Diane Wilson.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Lawrence, this Spring. Details to be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Skip's honor may be made to Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ 85014. Online condolences can be given at www.caminodelsol.com.