Raymond Charles 'Babe' Dunn, Hermitage, passed away peacefully at 1:05 a.m. Thursday (7-1-10) in Clepper Manor after an extended illness. He was 89.

Mr. Dunn was born May 2, 1921 in Sharon a son of the late William and Emma Wiesen Dunn.

During his 7th and 8th grade summers, Ray lived and worked at the Bentley Farm. He later reflected that this is where his love of gardening began; a true passion which he enjoyed throughout his life.

He was a 1939 graduate of Sharon High School where he excelled in track and basketball.

Ray enlisted with the US Marine Corp. in April of 1942 and served during WWII in the S. Pacific on the Gilberts and Marshall Islands; Roy Island, Hawaii, American Samoa, Funa Fuji and Moore Island. He attained the rank of Corporal and was a 'propeller man' until his honorable discharge in October of 1945.

His work career included driving trucks for the former Fitzpatrick's; a laborer at Sharon Steel's former Farrell plant; and machine operator at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation in the 'A' building until it closed in 1984. Ray retired from Westinghouse with 42 years of service. In his spare time he also tended bar at his brother's business, The Sharon Hotel.

Ray was a charter member of the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage. He believed strongly in God first, then family and friends. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, euchre, gardening, reading, joke telling and spending time at the family's camp in the Allegheny Mountains, Dunn's Den. Ray also enjoyed playing on the former Westinghouse baseball team and on the inter-department softball league. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 299, Sharon; and the Western Reserve Fish and Game Protective Association, E. Lackawannock Township.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Mary Ellen Brainard, whom he married in St. Gaul's Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 26, 1950; six children, Gregory J. Dunn and Bruce J. Dunn, both Hermitage; Mark G. Dunn and his wife Janie, The Colony, Texas; Dorothy A. 'Dot' Banick and her husband Jack, Sharon; Janice M. Pelensky and her husband Larry, Erie; and Pamela J. Nickel, Hermitage; nine grandchildren, Christopher and Geri Rae Dunn; Ellen Kellar and Katie Patton; Chad and Danielle Pelensky; Jesse Nickel; and Robbie Stone and Emma Dunn; 3 great grandchildren, Ethan Stone, Harper Nickel and Luke Patton; and a 4th great grandchild expected in September. Raymond is also survived by a sister, Mary Catherine Madden, Hermitage, formerly of Sharon; and a brother, Paul Dunn and his wife Sallie, Sharon.

Besides his parents, Ray was preceded in death by seven brothers, William James 'Jim', Matthias, Richard 'Dick', Edwin, John Robert 'Bob', Arthur 'Blackie' and Lawrence Dunn; and a granddaughter, Megan Pelensky.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Joshua's Haven, 205 Bank Place, P.O. Box 128, Sharon, PA 16146.

Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday (7-5-10) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday (7-6-10) in Church of Notre Dame, Highland Rd., Hermitage, with Msgr. Edward J. Zeitler, senior associate, as celebrant.

Entombment: St. Rose Cemetery Mausoleum, Hermitage.