Delores June Dunivan

Delores June Dunivan, loving mother, grandma, GG, aunt, cousin and friend was called to her heavenly home on August 10th, 2025, at the age of 88. Full of love, laughter and resilience, she touched the lives of all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 16th, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home Chapel, Perry, who has been entrusted with arrangements. Interment will immediately follow the service at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, near Sumner, OK.

Delores was born in their family home southeast of Stillwater on December 30th, 1936, to Wilfred and Alice Overholt. She attended elementary school at Oakgrove country school, and then attended Perkins schools from 6th through 12th grades, where she graduated high school in 1954. The second of four children, Delores’ early memories of being raised on the farm included tending to the garden and taking care of the farm animals. She was especially fond of being outdoors. While growing up, she attended Lost Creek United Methodist Church and participated in many youth group activities. During her high school years, Delores was active in FHA, Junior Famer’s Union Association, and worked for Woolworth Five and Dime store in Stillwater. After completing high school, she went on to be a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell in Stillwater.

While attending the 89er’s celebration with a friend in Guthrie, OK in 1957, she met John “Dale” Dunivan of Sumner, OK; they dated and were later married November 22nd that same year at Lost Creek United Methodist Church south of Stillwater. They resided west of Bill’s Corner on family land homesteaded during the Oklahoma Land Run, where they were blessed with four children: Jan, John, Dee Ann and Dennis. In 1964 the family left the farm and moved to Missouri where Dale accepted a position as science consultant for the State Department of Education. Subsequent moves took them to Tarkio, MO and Palo Alto, CA. In 1971 they settled 30 miles west of St. Louis, MO where they lived for 20 years. Delores’ dream of becoming a mother and homemaker came to fruition and she excelled at both. Her unwavering devotion to her family and the unconditional love she so freely shared was a gift her family will forever cherish. After retiring in 1991, Delores and Dale returned to their roots and moved back to the Stillwater, OK area.

The simple pleasures in life brought great joy to Delores, and she will be remembered by her love of bird watching (especially cardinals and hummingbirds), country living, home decorating, cooking and baking. Her family and friends were “grateful recipients” of many of her culinary specialties, including German chocolate cakes, chocolate chip cookies and homemade ice cream. She was certainly “in her element” when she hosted countless family gatherings, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and 4th of July holidays. She had the special gifts of organization and attention to detail which were apparent in making these celebrations together fun and memorable, always making everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

Delores is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Saralee Wallen of Denver, CO and Nedra Will of Morrison, OK; and one brother, Maurice Overholt of Stillwater, OK.

Delores is survived by her four children: Jan (Kenneth) Torres of Albuquerque, NM, John Dunivan of Morrison, OK, Dee Ann (Gary) Beeby of Stillwater, OK and Dennis (Sharon) Dunivan of Gunnison, Colorado; eight grandchildren: TJ (Kristie) Dunivan, Cara (Martin) Sanders, Isaac and Brad Torres, Jackson, Sam and Cole Dunivan, and Seth Dunivan; seven great grandchildren: Connor, Caden and Claire Dunivan, Kinsley and Kyler Sammons and McKenna and Jaxon Sanders; two brothers-in-law: George Wallen and Eldon Will; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Delores left an indelible mark on family and friends. Her spirit will live on in the lives she touched, as they find comfort and peace reflecting on one of her favorite scriptures, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

Her family would like to thank the staff at Perry Green Valley Nursing Home and to the caregivers who, through their kindness, patience and humor, made “DD’s’ days a little brighter. In addition, they would like to thank the staff at Companion Healthcare Hospice for their care and support during her final days. The family will be forever grateful for their guidance and compassion. In lieu of flowers, Delores requested those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Turning Point Ranch Association in her honor, in c/o Dighton-Marler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Perry, OK 73077.