In Memory of Lewis H. Dunlap (April 19, 1926-September 7, 2023)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Lewis “Lew” Herbert Dunlap, who died on September 7, 2023, at the age of 97.

Lew was born on April 19, 1926, in Warrensburg, MO to William Preston Dunlap and Edith Grace Boyd Dunlap. He was the youngest of three children. In 1936, his family moved to Rolla, MO where he graduated high school (1943). Lew was called into active duty in the US Army Air Corps in 1944 and was discharged in 1946. After being discharged, he enrolled at Missouri Valley College and received his Bachelor of Arts (1951) following which he went to McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago graduating with his Master of Divinity (1954). Lew then served as a United Presbyterian minister until he was assigned to the Air Force as a Presbyterian chaplain in 1960. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1977.

In 1968, Lew began a radical change in his theology. He began to consider humanism and discovered the First Universalist Church in Denver, CO. There he felt at home philosophically. He became active in both the First Universalist Church and the American Humanist Association. At the First Universalist Church, he served as hymn leader at Sunday morning services, sat on the board, and was active on the Lay Ministry Committee. He represented the congregation on the Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Board. Thereafter, Lew wanted to extend his ministry to the congregation and to the greater community. He sought to stimulate, encourage, and provide avenues for the development of love, kindness, compassion, and justice through becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister.

Rev. Dunlap was ordained by the First Universalist Church, Denver, CO on May 23, 1999. Following ordination, he served the Borderlands UU, Amado, AZ (2000-2001) and the UU Congregation of Green Valley, AZ (2000-2001). At Green Valley, he actively supported the Canvass Committee and successfully stimulated interest in developing an endowment fund within the congregation. From 2001 to 2002, he served the UU Fellowship at Burlington, IA as their interim minister. In 2002, he accepted a call from the UU Church of Greeley, CO where he would minister until 2003. Rev. Dunlap exemplified the kind of enthusiasm and commitment that made church life compelling. He ministered with dedication and commitment.

Rev. Dunlap was one of the organizers of a new UU congregation, Prairie UU Church in the Parker, CO area. He cared enough to start a new congregation to spread the news of Unitarian Universalism to the southeastern suburbs. He also served as a regional Coordinator of the UU Service Committee (2005).

In the larger community, he provided his services as a board member of the Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, as a founder and coordinator of the Rational Recovery Systems of Colorado, and as a founding and board member of the Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations. Likewise, he served as a founder/leader of the Denver Chapter American Humanist Association (AHA).

Throughout his life, Lew loved travel, music, bridge, and community theater. He played the piano, guitar, and trumpet, and sang tenor in various local choirs.  He also loved baseball and once again proved he had no intention of slowing down, attending the Colorado Rockies Fantasy camp for four years between the ages of 88 and 91!  He used his age as his player number.

His son Paul shared: “Lew’s ‘radical shift’” in theology initially bordered on atheism fueled by the more anti-religionist elements in the AHA.  However, he later repeatedly described the UUA as not anti-god or anti-religion, but open to all beliefs. And over the last few years of his life, his favorite TV viewing has been “The Chosen,” a very Biblical and realistic multi-season series about Jesus and his disciples. 

Lew is survived by his first wife, Katherine Dunlap; his children: Ruth Anne Hitchcock (Darrell), Paul Dunlap (Karen), and David Dunlap (Tracey); as well as his twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Phyllis Dolan, and is also survived by her four children: Kathryn Dolan, Connie Seguin, Albert Dolan, and Michael Dolan; and one grandson.

A memorial open house was held on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at St. Andrews Village, 13801 E. Yale Ave, Aurora 80014.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church. 

Notes of condolence can be written here or sent to Paul at pndunlap@comcast.net.