Ann W. Dunlap

Ann W. Dunlap born November 23, 1934, passed away peacefully at home after an extended illness on Saturday May 25, 2024. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1956 and attained a master’s degree in gifted education from the University of South Florida in 1973 as well as a number of certificates and professional achievements in the real estate world. She is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, George T. Dunlap, III, her three cherished children, George T. Dunlap, IV (Meg), Scott W. Dunlap (Melissa), Ann D. Murphy (John), and 8 loving grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a niece, Dana J. Scott, and a sister-in-law, Kay D. Guild, and her four children. The family would also like to extend their love and appreciation for the compassionate care from long-term caregiver Michelle Haynes. Ann led a vibrant and fulfilling life as a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as an active and engaged member of the community. She was past president of the Bartow Cricket Club, the Bartow Board of Realtors, the Bartow Garden Club, and the Bartow Garden Gate Circle. She was a Paul Harris Fellow, and a recipient of the Medal of Merit from the Bartow Rotary Club. She also had the honor of being named to the World’s Who’s Who of Women in 1979. She served on numerous boards, including as a Director of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce and as a Board Member of the Child Development Center of Polk County, and was active in the real estate profession as a realtor and instructor. In that regard, she owned the Realty World franchise in Bartow and taught various real estate courses at Polk State College, The Lakeland Association of Realtors, and at the Bert Rodgers School of Real Estate. The Florida Governor appointed her to the Governor’s Council on Effect of Radiation on Mined-Out Phosphate Land in 1980 and in her later years appointed her to serve on the Board of the Peace River Basin which contributed to the development of important water policy matters for the sustainability of the state’s critical water resources in Central Florida. Her dynamic and passionate love for the community and her professional endeavors was only matched by her love for her family. She and her beloved husband travelled the world with their children and grandchildren and engaged in adventurous travels via RVs, planes, and cruises. She and her husband were devoted to each other and their family. She lived a life that enriched and inspired all of those around her and left a legacy for her family that will live on for generations. The funeral service will be held on Saturday June 1, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bartow, Florida with interment to follow at the Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, Florida. Donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.