Boykin B. Dunaway

Boykin B. Dunaway, 99, Registered Pharmacist, past Executive Vice President of Dunaway Drug Stores, WW II Combat Medic, resident of Winnwood Retirement Community Marietta, passed away on Sunday, October 5. He was born in Paulding County on May 8, 1915 to Benjamin F. Dunaway and Roberta Powers Dunaway. He graduated from Dallas High School and started working for his cousin, William Horace (“W.H.”) Dunaway, in his drug store in Dallas GA in the 1930’s. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a Pharmacist’s Mate, then he was assigned to be a Combat Medic for a naval beach battalion. Boykin was in the first wave as a combat medic, on Omaha Beach in Normandy. He administered medical care and made triage decisions for 3-4 weeks, deciding which wounded could survive being evacuated to the hospital ships off shore. He participated in these hazardous evacuations that were made with stretchers on “Ducks.” He was called “Grandpa” by his fellow medics since, at 29, he was older than even his commanding officers. He was then transferred to a ship in the Pacific for the invasion of Okinawa. Fortunately, his unit did not go ashore but served as a hospital ship for weeks in spite of Kamikaze attacks. His unit was then transferred to the Philippines to train for the invasion of Japan. Boykin always thought the dropping of the atomic bomb and God saved his life. After the war, he returned to Dallas, GA, and since “W.H.” had bought a store in Marietta and moved there, Boykin bought the Dallas store and ran it while he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from The Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta (now the Mercer College of Pharmacy). In 1953, his cousin, W. H. Dunaway, persuaded him to sell the Dallas store, to move to Marietta, and to join in the management of what was then the largest, and only, self-service drug store in the Southeast. (At Belmont Hills Shopping Center) Boykin, better known as “B. B.,” became “W.H.’s” General Manager and Executive Vice President until, in 1968, W.H. turned the stores over to his son, Bill Dunaway. He continued in that capacity with Bill until his retirement in 1982. B.B. helped grow the company into an 18 drug store chain. “B.B.” was a true “workaholic,” rarely taking time off. Working and fishing were his only hobbies. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorene P. Dunaway, and by his brother, Buford Dunaway of Dallas and his sister, Ruth Dunaway of Austell. He is survived by his daughter, Debbie L. Dunaway and grandsons, Drew Martz and Ben Martz, all of Marietta, and granddaughter, Kimi O’Malley of Atlanta, and also by his cousin, William B. Dunaway of Marietta. He is also survived by brothers, Dr. Frank Dunaway of Ellijay GA and Clifford Dunaway of Morrow GA. All four Dunaway brothers served in the armed forces during World War II. He is also survived by his best friend, Sam, a beloved Black Labrador Retriever. Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta is in charge of the arrangements. A Graveside Service will be held at 12 noon Thursday at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton with Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews officiating. There will be no formal visitation. For those who wish to see Mr. Dunaway and sign the register book may stop by the funeral home anytime on Wednesday. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the W. H. Dunaway Scholarship Fund, Kennesaw State University Foundation. It is a fund established to aid students wishing to pursue a degree in Pharmacy. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Boykin B. Dunaway

May 8, 1915 - October 5, 2014