Courtland- Marvin Birden Gunn, Jr., 70, beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 9, 2024, only months following a cancer diagnosis. Marvin was a native of Southampton County, graduated from Franklin High School in 1972, and served two years in the Army National Guard. He was a long-time employee of Union Camp, retired from International Paper, and enjoyed many years as a member of the Bronco Rod & Gun Club and the Southampton Greys team in the North-South Skirmish Association (N- SSA).

Marvin (known also as Bug, Marvie, Deddie, and BigPa) was a lifelong avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping, as well as an accomplished fast-pitch softball and baseball player in his earlier years. He was a voracious reader his entire life and loved boasting how he read over a hundred books over the summer following his first grade year, consistently maxing out the allowed number of checkouts from the library in a single visit. He was a master of words, well-known for his quick wit, endless wisdom, and extraordinary sense of humor. He thoroughly enjoyed the 35 years he had living and raising his family on the Gunn Family Farm, also known as "The Gunnderosa." He was an eternal optimist and valued his family above all else. He will be missed immensely by everyone who knew and loved him. He will forever be "The Gunnderosa Kid."

Marvin was predeceased by his father, Marvin B. Gunn, Sr., his brother, G. Earl Gunn, his sister, Linda G. Gavin, two brothers-in-law, Stanley Campbell and Elwood "Foots" Gavin, and his father-in-law, Al Reed.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 43 years, Dawn Reed Gunn, his mother, Lillian Crumpler Gunn, his sister, Vanessa Gunn Bailey (William), sister-in-law, Susan Bailey Gunn, mother-in-law, Katherine Vaughan McWaters (Cliff), brother-in-law, J. Mark Reed, his children, Celia Gunn Sadler (Lundy), Jason Marvin Gunn (Desi), and Hillary Gunn White (Brad), his grandchildren, Grayson Marston, Savannah Sadler, Alex Marston (Austin), Jocelyn Sadler, Mackenzie Gunn, Teagan Gunn, and Jameson Gunn, nieces and nephew, April Overton (Jesse), Kevin Gunn (Erin), and Crystal Brownfield (John), great nieces and nephews, Logan Carr, Kyleigh Gunn, Hunter Brownfield, River Gunn, and Tucker Brownfield, his aunt, Irene Bailey (David), numerous cousins, and his long-time high school "Big Chill" friends.

The family would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and medical care teams at Maryview Hospital, Southampton Memorial Hospital, and Obici Hospital for their knowledge and their gentle kindness to all of us during this trying time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society (4416 Expressway Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23452), the North-South Skirmish Association (480 Chalybeate Springs Rd., Winchester, VA 22603), or the Friends of the Courtland Library (22511 Main St., Courtland, VA 23837).

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 8PM at Wright Funeral Home. A memorial service and celebration of life, with Preacher Jim Browder officiating, will be held at 11AM Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Wright Funeral Home, followed by a short graveside service at the Capron cemetery on Pinopolis Road.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org