DOROTHY (DOTTIE) B. DUNLAP

Dorothy Brooks Dunlap, 85, theatre director and children's theatre specialist, died of natural causes Monday, June 7th, 2010. Mrs. Dunlap resided in the Chartwell community of Severna Park, MD since 1975.

Born October 6, 1924 in Cambridge, MD, Mrs. Dunlap was the daughter of Fannie Noble and Harold Cleland Brooks.

In 1944, she married USNA graduate Roger Hugh Mullins of Springfield, IL. Enjoying the life of an officer's wife and mother of two children, she developed an enthusiastic interest in travel. After her husband was tragically killed in Vietnam in 1960, she and her children continued to live in Auburn, AL where they had last been stationed. She took the opportunity to resume her education and received a B.A. in Speech & Drama from Auburn University. She was recipient of the Gold Mask Award from the Auburn Players of Auburn University. At Auburn University she was recruited to colonize Gamma Omega Chapter of the women's fraternity, Kappa Alpha Theta.

In 1965, she returned to Maryland and has resided in the Annapolis area since then. In 1966 she married William C. Winblad, a Washington DC business executive. Mr. Winblad died in 1976. In 1985 she married US Marine Col. John F. Dunlap of Savannah, GA. During the years since her return to Maryland, she remained active in theatre, several women's organizations, church activities at St. John the Evangelist, and continued extensive travels throughout the world. Late in life she pursued a part-time career as income tax preparer, providing pro bono services for the elderly.

A life-long student of the theatre and tireless supporter of the arts, she performed on stage and TV, directed performances at Auburn University, the Naval Academy and the Children's Theatre of Annapolis. She was an awards judge for Colonial Players in Annapolis, stagecraft workshop director for St. Mary's High School in Annapolis; creative drama workshop chairman for American Theatre Association and Friends School, Baltimore; technical director and speech instructor for Anne Arundel Community College, Severna Park, MD; and judge for the US Army International Festival for Performing Arts.

Mrs. Dunlap was an active member of the American Association of University Women, the American Educational Theatre Association, the Annapolis Fine Arts Festival Association, Mid-Atlantic Children's Theatre Conference, International Platform Association, the Anne Arundel Arts Association and the Severna Park Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Surviving are her daughter, Eileen Mullins Haley (husband, Dr. David R. Haley), her son Stephen G. Mullins (wife, Robin Miller Mullins) and her nephew Charles (Chip) N. Lednum, Jr. Grandchildren are Roger Jacob Mullins, Piper Mullins Hinson and Stephen Travis Mullins. Step-children of Mrs. Dunlap: Kathryn Dunlap Hodson (Columbus, MS), John F. (Jay) Dunlap, Jr. (deceased) and Timothy M. Dunlap (Auburn, AL).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 10:00AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, 689 Ritchie Hwy in Severna Park, MD. Interment will be at 2:00PM at Dorchester Memorial Park, 5391 Aireys Road, Cambridge, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake 445 Defense Hwy. Annapolis, MD 21401. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com