The Reverend Donald Wayne Nunn (Trinity Presbytery) died February 5, 2020, after a struggle with cancer. Don was born February 21, 1934, in Center, Metcalf County, Kentucky, to Carlos Edward Nunn and Kathleen Trent. He was baptized by the Reverend V.A. Jones in July 1948, and joined Joyner’s Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Cumberland Presbytery), Hardyville, Kentucky.
Don attended Kentucky public schools in Louisville, Center, and Hardyville before enrolling in Bethel College (McKenzie, Tennessee) in 1954. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 and entered the Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, then also in McKenzie. Before Don finished his theological studies, the seminary moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and was renamed Memphis Theological Seminary. Don was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from MTS in 1969.
Don came under the care of Cumberland Presbytery in 1955, was licensed in 1957, and ordained in 1959. The Reverend Calvin Mouser preached his ordination sermon and the Reverend V.A. Jones delivered the charge.
Donn married Helen Lindsey of Leitchfield, Kentucky, on October 8, 1956. They had two daughters, Donna Maureen and Kathy Lynn.
Besides Cumberland Presbytery, at various times Don held membership in Obion, Princeton, Indiana, Memphis, Caddo, Porter, Red River, and Trinity Presbyteries. He began his pastoral ministry as stated supply for the Poplar Grove/Woodward’s Chapel parish in 1958. He also pastored Rose Creek (Nebo, Kentucky), Warren First Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Warren, Michigan), Grace (Memphis, Tennessee), Walnut Grove (Burlison, Tennessee), Kenton First (Kenton, Tennessee), Saint John (White Oak, Texas) where he was the founding pastor, Fort Smith First (Fort Smith, Arkansas), and Mission Ridge (Arlington, Texas). Prior to being called to a full-time pastorate in Kenton, Don was also a teacher.
Beginning in 1971, Don was a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol.
Paula Hayes (Trinity Presbytery): “Don was my minister at St. Johns CPC in White Oak, Texas, and I will never forget the day of my ordination as an elder. At the laying on of hands, he spoke into my ear, ‘After all these years in the ministry, you are the first woman I have ever ordained.’ We talked later and I told him that, by sharing those words, he had made a special day truly unforgettable. Our friendship continued through the years and I treasure the many times he would suddenly appear at the door of my office just to visit for a while. He always had a story to share that would cheer my day and we would usually end up laughing.”
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