Yvonne Marie Dunkin

Yvonne was born on May 29, 1935 to Jack & Charlotte Burton at Bucudo Washington.  Yvonne went home to her Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 27, 2025.  Yvonne went to school in Centralia Washington until the family moved to Olympia where she graduated in 1953. 

Yvonne met the love of her life Arvid Dunkin in September of 1953 and they were married on October 16, 1954 in Tumwater Washington.

They made their lives together in Centralia, living on a dairy farm.  Yvonne worked at H.C. Coffman Insurance Company until they moved to Prosser Washington in 1970 when they bought another dairy farm.  In 1974, Yvonne went back to work at Chapman – Lampson Insurance company where she worked the personal lines insurance.  She had many first-time drivers in her office so she could explain to them what would happen if they got a ticket or were in an accident.  Yvonne retired from the insurance agency on April 30, 1999. 

Before her husband’s death, they traveled a lot, taking her sister in law Ardis and mom Charlotte to Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, South Dakota, and Illinois.  One big trip to Alaska where they traveled around for six weeks.  After Arvid’s death, she returned to Alaska several times where she loved to fish with her brother Jack and sister in law Judy.

Yvonne was activity 4H leader from 1970 until 1985 with the Whitstran Dairy Club.  Yvonne was active in the Lower Valley Insurance Women’s group.  She was a volunteer and coordinator at HOBS for six years and then went on to volunteer at the Prosser Senior Center for another 10 years. Yvonne was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Prosser, Washington.

Yvonne is proceeded in death by her loving husband Arvid Dunkin in 1995; her son Arnold Dunkin (1958), mother Charlotte Adams (1993), sister in law Ardis Longabaugh (1996), brother David Adams (2003),daughter Cheryl Oten (2005), brother Chuck Burton (2018),son John Dunkin (2021),sister in law Judy Burton (2022).

Yvonne is survived by her children Vern (Kim) Dunkin, Cindy (Tom) Mclemore, Tim (Nancy) Oten and Dawn (Dave) Candanoza, all of Prosser; brother Jack Burton of Prosser and nine grandchildren JD (Nicole) Dunkin; Chad Dunkin; Shannon Dunkin; Tim (Holly) Oten ; Calib (Megan) Oten; Megan (Nick) Cox; Dustin (Nikki) Dunkin, Heather (Nathan) Gregory and Lillie (Austin) Carter and 20 great grandchildren, all that were greatly loved.  Plus all the cousins, nieces and newphews and adopted family she picked up along the way, including Kathleen, Alicia & Matthew Young.

We would like to thank Heartlinks Family Home staff in Sunnyside Washington for the loving care they provided our mother.

Memorial will be held on Saturday, Octoberc 4, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Messiah Lutheran Church at 801 Luther Ln, Prosser, WA  99350.  In leiu of flowers, donations can be made to Heartlink Family Home or Messiah Lutheran Church. Tose wishing to sign Yvonne’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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