Charles Smith Dunlop Jr.
April 18, 1945 ~ January 7, 2022
Born in:
Asheville, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailCharles Smith Dunlop, Jr., was born April 18, 1945 and died January 7, 2022 at the age of 76.
Charlie was a North Carolina native son born at the former Biltmore Hospital in Asheville, raised in Brevard by his loving parents Charles and Melle Dunlop, Sr., and received both his undergraduate and graduate studies in Industrial Arts from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
With his breadth of talents, Charlie had opportunities to do many things in life, but he felt a calling to teach. He had a zeal and passion for his subject matter, and a great love and commitment to his students, spending 34 years teaching cabinetry and woodworking and CAD, with the majority of his teaching career spent at North Buncombe High School. He remained forever proud that a desk that his North Buncombe High School students built, graces the office of North Carolina’s Lt. Governor in Raleigh. He believed strongly in enabling every student with the life skills needed to earn a sustainable living and independence, and was a strong leader, voice, and advocate throughout the State of North Carolina for vocational education.
A lifelong learner as well as teacher, in retirement, Charlie developed and mastered skills in pottery and porcelain, carving, stained glass, and fused glass. He was also an accomplished photographer, welder, baker, and boat builder to name a few. He was by nature an artist and designer, quickly sketching a drawing when words failed to bring a concept to life. He participated in numerous building team trips in Central America through the Western Conference of the Methodist Church, and became a passionate voice for the Kairos Prison Ministry. A man of faith, he believed in sharing his talents in service to others and served for more than 10 years as Property Chairman at Central Methodist Church, participated in building teams following disasters in Gulfport, MS, Clyde, NC, and others, made more than a hundred bowls for MANNA Foodbank’s Empty Bowls, baked cookies by the dozens for Kairos and others. In recent years despite suffering three significant rounds with cancer, he was never happier than when he could be out at Gladdens Creek near Lake Santeetlah or designing and working on his next project in his shop in Asheville.
Charlie had a deep and abiding love for his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Melody Esther Dunlop; son Charles “Chuck” Dunlop and wife Kristin and their children Ella, Isabel, and Wesley; son Joseph “Joe” Dunlop and wife Lori and their children Josie and Lola; brother Lee Dunlop and wife Jean; dear nieces and other family members and many treasured friends and former students.
Our family would be honored if you care to share a remembrance or a story. And if you feel led to make a donation in Charlie’s memory, three of his favorite nonprofits are MANNA Foodbank, Homeward Bound, and The Black Mountain Home for Children.
A celebration service of Charlie’s life will be planned by the family for a date in the spring of 2022.
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road
856 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
(828)299-4416
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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Melody,
I was so saddened to hear the news. The world lost a truly dear man today. I enjoyed every single one of my conversations with Charlie. He was a kindred spirit. My love and thoughts are with you.
Jen Waite (MANNA)
M,
Baking and power tools. Those two wonderful pictures sum up Charlie’s wide-ranging and prodigious talents. Love it and love you m’friend.
Melody, as always our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. We remember the incredibly beautiful Mission Founders Award Charlie created in ceramic. We feel so fortunate to call Charlie my friend and he always amazed us with the breadth of his talents and his “can do” spirit in whatever he pursued. We’ll miss his wit, his stories and his bright, broad smile!
Melody, I just heard! I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful, kind and giving man this world has lost. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family.
My sincere condolences with love to Melody
and family! Charlie was one of a kind, caring and inclusive. He will be missed!!
Annette Coleman
Prayers and condolences…I was in the class of ’86 and enjoyed the many conversations I had with him.
Ms. Dunlop,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during your time of grief. It only took one time to meet Charlie to know what a special and caring man he was. I was blessed to meet him one very cool morning in Robbinsville when I saw him across the road working at his barn. Charlie made me feel like I had known him for years and later that evening he delivered a delicious bag of warm cinnamon rolls. I always looked forward to seeing him during my trips to North Carolina and cherished the subsequent baked goods he generously shared with myself and his neighbors. He will be dearly missed.
My deepest condolences to your family. My husband Jack actually proposed to me in Charlie’s shop class in high school with Charlie chanting with the rest of the class (” say yes !say yes!). We loved him dearly!
Melissa and Jack Metcalf
Mrs Dunlop,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am deeply saddened to hear of Charlie’s passing. He was my mentor at North Buncombe, 76-77. I was the first female to take advanced shop class and he was alway so gracious & kind to me. He went out of his way to help me with my ideas & goals. I wanted to become an interior designer. As I read his obituary I found that we had similar interests, I have done some stained glass & pottery in the past. I always remember his smile & jolly nature! He made a lasting impression on me & I have often thought of him. He was an amazing person! May he Rest In Peace.
So sorry to hear of your loss Charlie was my woodworking teacher and friend at N.B in 74 and 75 always had a good word
Mr. Dunlop is one of the reason I have been in the computer field for the past 25 years. He sold sold me an tape unit and some programs for my first VIC-20 computer. He was a good man that touched many and will be missed by all.
What a Man!
Charles D just made you a better person. He influenced so many people with his passion for caring, teaching, and being a friend! His Smile, his Chuckle, his life advise will be solely missed! See you later my friend! Sending prayers to family and friends.
Dunlop family,
My most sincere condolences to each of you! As I reflect back to my years with Charlie at NB I realized that this individual without question had the most positive impact in my life, beside my parents. He was always there watching to keep you safe, listening to help you on your life journey and most any other thing that would help me. I haven’t taken the time from my life to visit with Charlie in a long time, I regret that! Not my teacher, but a valued friend. Class of 78.
My dearest NBF aka Melody: I just heard of your loss of your dear Charlie while going through my Groce listings on my I pad. It sometimes seems that the sweetest and the most loving among us are sometimes taken first. I want to see you soon, but I want you to be ready to see people before bothering you. Just know that I love you like a sister, and will be in touch soon! My best wishes and sympthaties to your family and Charlie’s . Beverley
Mr Dunlop was my woodworking teacher at North Buncombe in 1976 & 1977. He had a lasting impression on my life as I still enjoy woodworking and still use lessions i learned from Mr Dunlop.
Prayers for comfort and peace for the family.
Melody, Chuck and Joe – Diana and I are so sorry to learn of your loss. Charlie (Judge. As we knew him) and I lived on the same hall in Buchanan Dorm during our freshman year at WCU. We became good friends and spent the next two years as roommates at Dean’s apartments off campus. I had forgotten he was one day my junior (4/17/45). He was a good friend and will surely be missed.
My prayers are with your family…. I don’t know if many remember but some of the Class of ‘91, called him Daddy “D”. He was an amazing man and teacher and loved by so many. He will truly be missed.
Great Man ! He taught me in shop through out high school ” Class of 1984″
I learned many of the skills I have used through out my career from him. Never will forget him be yelling “What Are You Doing” when he would catch one of us operating machinery unsafely.
He will be missed !
Danny Allen
Ann Vallandingham Golightly
Class of 1963
It was 1981 when i met a friend for life. I was into 8os rock and wood working. He went to every place i I
worked since. Now im shipping speaker cabinets all over the world.
He tought me more than wood working bet more about life. Thank you for all your lesions. I will miss you very much!
You’re friend always Jon Mathis