Obituary of James R. Dungan

James R. Dungan died on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at Centre Crest in Bellefonte, on his birthday. He was 90 years old. Jim was born on November 28, 1928, in Brookhaven, Mississippi, the son of Camilla Davis Dungan and Percy Dungan. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Perry; and his second and third wives, Bruce and Nancy. Surviving are three wives and a first cousin, Carol Azzone of central Mississippi. He served three years in the Regular Army from 1946 to 1949 with two of those years on Occupation Duty in Western Germany. Jim received a BS from what is now the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Emory University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Florida. He spent his early career as a high school teacher in Georgia and Florida. He then became a school administrator, served in the state Department of Education in Florida, and for many years was a university-level administrator at The Pennsylvania State University with responsibility for system-wide space assignment, He also was the senior administrator responsible for the university-wide conversion from the Term Calendar to the Semester Calendar, as well as a variety of other tasks. Jim was an avid reader and had more than 700 books in his private collection, including more than 300 books on the Civil War. He was considered an expert on Civil War history and taught Civil War history for some 15 years for the Community Academy of Lifelong Learning (CALL), and its successor, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). In addition, he led bus trips to various battle sites. He always received positive evaluations from his students. Services will be private. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.