Obituary: James E. "Buzz" Dunn, 89, Bolivar

Bolivar - James E. “Buzz” Dunn, 89, of 171 Olive St. passed away Wednesday August 23, 2017 in the Hart Comfort House Wellsville following a lengthy illness. Son of Louis B. and Aurelia Dean Dunn, he was born on October 25, 1927, his father’s birthday. A 1945 graduate of Bolivar Central School, he attended Alfred University before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1946. He was stationed in Germany where he guarded Nazi prisoners of war and transported them to Nuremberg for trial.  He was honorably discharged in 1947 with the rank of Sergeant and was a forty-nine year member of Kenyon Andrus Post 772 American Legion. He received his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1953. He was then employed by Creole Oil (Standard Oil of New Jersey) in Venezuela where he met his wife Elizabeth Hanley of Norwalk, CT. On August 22, 2017 they celebrated 58 years of marriage.
He was a Bolivar Village Trustee, Deputy Mayor, and was elected Mayor of Bolivar by a tie breaking draw of cards in 1971. A long-time employee of Bradley Builders in Olean, he oversaw construction of many area buildings. In later years he was employed by Crisafulli Construction and L.C. Whitford Co., and was self-employed as a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of New York and Pennsylvania consulting on many projects. He designed and oversaw the construction of his home on Olive Street in Bolivar.
He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and forester who loved being in the woods and cutting timber with his best friend Raymond Mosher. His expert timber management generated funds that enabled his wife and four children to attain a total of eight higher education degrees among them. Buzz was known for his colorful expressions and the humorous nicknames he bestowed on all.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a brother, Thomas J. Dunn of Bolivar, daughter Christine A. Dunn of Burbank, CA, son Patrick J. Dunn of Bolivar, daughter Margaret Dunn Rollins and her husband Patrick M. Rollins and grandchildren Catherine, Matthias and Elizabeth Rollins all of Canandaigua, NY, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara D. Morris and her husband Clifton J. Morris and a son Timothy J. Dunn.

Friends may call the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc., 554 South Main Street, Bolivar on Friday August 25, 2017 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday August 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Bolivar. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 111 Wellsville St., Bolivar, NY  14715 or to the American Chestnut Foundation, 50 North Merrimon Avenue, Suite 115, Asheville, NC  28804 in honor of his efforts to preserve this species. The family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at Manor Hills.