Dale Robert Dunlap

Friends and family join together to pay tribute to Dale Robert Dunlap as he returned to his heavenly home October 27, 2025, as his devoted wife and son remained steadfast by his side.

Dale was born to Irene Tessmann and Robert Dunlap in Waco on August 17, 1951 and raised by his grandparents R.V. and Ethel Sullins. He attended Waco schools where he met his future wife Pam. He asked her to be his date at the first sock hop in 7th grade at North Junior High. He graduated from Waco High School in 1969. After high school, Dale attended Texas A&M where he played tuba in the Fighting Aggie Band and was a member of the Texas A&M Corp of Cadets.

One of Dale’s brightest moments was in 1979. He and Pam reunited at their 10-year class reunion and later wed in 1981. Their ultimate joy was the birth of their son Ryan in May 1990. Dale was very involved with Boy Scouts when Ryan joined Troop 453. He accompanied his son on backpacking trips in the Rocky Mountains, Philmont, and Double H Ranch in New Mexico. One of Dale’s fondest memories was watching his son play football for the Reicher Catholic High School Cougars when they won the state championship in 2007.

Dale’s humble beginnings growing up were often a struggle to make life better for his family. His work ethic began with various paper routes when he was younger. His dedication to hard work led him to becoming a certified welder at Pioneer Steel and later at Brown and Root. Dale’s career in managing mechanical outages began at Tradinghouse Steam Electric Station where he rose to supervisor. He later became regional project manager for mechanical outages at Martin Lake, Big Brown, Monticello and Oak Grove. The highlight of his career was his role as regional project manager at Luminant from which he retired in July 2016. Dale then became Ryan’s right-hand man in his son’s business. Their shared love of fixing, building and restoration was a defining part of their relationship. You could always find Dale working on a project in the back acre which he cleared for his newly built workshop full of tools and gadgets. He was always willing to help others and teach them the skills he had acquired throughout his life.

Left to cherish Dale’s memory are his beloved wife of 44 years, Pamela Gardner Dunlap; son, Ryan Gardner Dunlap; brother, Pat Dunlap and wife Cheryl, brother Robert Dunlap and wife Leanne, sisters Joanna Meyer, Valerie Harper and husband Dennis, Pam Dunlap and husband Randy Cowling; sister-in-law Kay Ferguson and husband Mike; step-mother Ruth Dunlap; several nieces and nephews and a host of life-long friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Gladney Center for Adoption, The Texas A&M Foundation Eternal Aggie Band Endowment, or Mission Waco.