B.L. "Jack" Dunbar

B.L. “Jack” Dunbar, loving husband and devoted father of two children, having two grandchildren and five great grandchildren, passed away at the age of 91, on November 22, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska, after a courageous battle fighting Parkinson’s.

Jack was preceded in death by his father, Willie Ohl Dunbar, his mother, Maggie Blear Dunbar, his brothers, James, Raymond and Clarence, and his sister Lois Jackson. He is survived by his loving wife Ruth Anne Dunbar, his daughter Jacquelyn Anne Dunbar Narrell, son-in-law Larry Narrell; grandson Brandan Narrell, his wife Marci Narrell, great grandchildren Taylor Anne, Brynn McKenna, Jackson Craig, and Kinsley Brandyn Narrell, all of Flower Mound, TX; his son William “Billy” Joe Dunbar, daughter-in-law Jackie Lynn Dunbar, granddaughter Ashley Dunbar Barber, her husband Logan Barber and great grandson Wyatt Cash Barber, of Anchorage, Alaska. Also, by Jack’s sisters Wanda Jean Wheeler of Longview, TX and Ruby Huleen Walker, of Forney,TX; as well as nephews, nieces and extended family.

Jack was born on April 19, 1927 in Hallsville, TX. Raised in Gladewater, TX he named himself “Jack” on his very first day of elementary school. Jack would later anxiously get off the school bus after football practice his senior year at Gladewater High School, class of 1944, to work alongside his brothers, Jim, Raymond and Clarence chasing drilling rigs across the counties of East Texas! He joined the U.S. Navy, in 1944 in Pittsburgh, TX., with his best friend, Billy Belcer. Serving four years, ending with an honorable discharge, he immediately returned to a career in his beloved oilfield. On July 3, 1953, he married his long time sweetheart, Ruth Anne Davis, from Carmi, IL. They lovingly raised their two children, Jacque and Billy. With true compassion and dedication, Jack loved and adored his family, embracing his treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren every day of his life.

Jack’s vast career and international experience, from Timor Island, north of Australia, throughout the Rocky Mountains of Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming, to the Pacific Ocean on the manmade offshore oil islands of Southern California, throughout the basins of Utah, he made a name for himself in the oilfield. Highly respected the world over, Jack went on to drill some of the initial oil wells on the North Slope, in Prudhoe Bay, AK, eventually settling his family in Anchorage. Later he and his partners created Little Red Services, Inc., which offered the largest hot oil trucks in the world. Jack was greatly admired, not only by family and friends, but by all who ever worked for and with him. He reigned supreme over the Oilfield Trash Association (OFT) of Anchorage, as president, and remained a lifelong dedicated Shriner.

Jack was passionate about his favorite hobby, his horses! He dearly loved “feeding” and taking care of them, and always enjoyed riding out on the wide open range. Jack is already deeply missed by everyone that knew and loved him.

A visitation will be held at 1 o’clock p.m., followed by a chapel service at 2 o’clock p.m. on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018, at the Croley Funeral Home on 401 North Center Street, Gladewater, TX 75647. Burial will follow at Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery on 4716 U.S. Highway 80, Big Sandy, TX 75755. Donations of love can be made to the Shriners.