Chris Dunbar

Opelousas- Christopher Stephen Dunbar died peacefully @ home on October 5, 2023, after a long illness. Because he donated his body to the Bureau of Anatomical Service, a funeral was not held. Instead, a memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023 @ 2:00 pm in the Sibille Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral home will open @ noon for visitation before the service.

Chris had a 36-year career in Workforce Development with the Workforce Investment Board- LWIB #40. He retired as administrator in 2010 due to health issues.  After 36 years working with the WIB, the people he worked with were indeed his second family. In his job, he truly loved helping people, whether it was training, schooling, or employment- he always did whatever he could to help.

In addition to his WIB job, Chris had a very successful real estate appraisal business that he started in 1982. He was a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. Because of health reasons, he closed his business in 2010.

As busy as he was with 2 jobs, he found time to coach Sarah and Stephen in t-ball and baseball for several summers.

He will always be remembered for his passion for maintaining a beautiful yard filled with plants and beautiful flowers- those flowers sometimes requiring 2 hours of watering daily.

Some of Chris’s favorite memories were of times he entertained and cooked for many @ “Club Dunbar”. Although he couldn’t enjoy a meal himself, he got great pleasure from seeing friends & family enjoying his cooking.

Above all, Chris was a true believer & a man of God. Although we mourn his death, we know he is at peace in the hands of our LORD.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to any charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank Traditions Hospice for the wonderful care given to Chris, their kindness & compassion will never be forgotten. To all we came in contact with on this journey & who assisted in his care, a sincere thank you to each & every one of you. We are especially grateful to Kim Dupont, Alicia Dehart, Ironice “NeeCie” Rideau & Dr. Hunt DeBlanc. A very special thank you to Lillie Thomas for her years of help & being there for us. We appreciate everything she’s done & continues to do for our family.

Chris leaves behind his loving wife, Verna Carriere Dunbar of Opelousas, his children, Christopher Stephen Dunbar and his wife, Sarah Boudreaux Dunbar of Youngsville, la., and Sarah Dunbar Murphy and her husband, Dr. Casey Murphy of New Orleans, La., his sister, Carolyne Dunbar DeJean and her husband, Felix A. DeJean III (Grem) of Opelousas, grandchildren, Preston Dunbar, Morrison Dunbar, Drew Murphy and Simone Murphy. Chris adored his four grandchildren and in return they adored their "Poppy".

Chris is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Preston and Cecelia Daigle Dunbar, sister, Ann Dunbar Purser (Cotton) and Melinda Dunbar Giardina (Ralph).

Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.