Joel Benjamin Dunlap

Joel Benjamin Dunlap of 1033 Grace Avenue, Burlington, NC succumbed 5:30pm Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the Cone Health/Alamance Regional Medical Center from a heart attack he had while on a fishing trip in the Panama Canal a week earlier. He was born in Alamance County, member of the Bula Masonic Lodge #409 AF&AM in Burlington, was also a Shriner and was known as “JoBell” the Shriner clown. He retired from the City of Burlington where he had served as the assistant personnel director, a safety officer and a Grant writer for the Burlington Fire Department. He was of the Baptist faith and reaffirmed that faith in God to his family just hours before his passing. Prayers, phone calls and messages to Joel came from all across the United States and as far away as China from his many friends while he was being given medical treatment.

Joel enjoyed his more than thirty years as a Mason and Shriner. He had a passionate heart for the Shriners Children Hospital and the families that went there for medical treatment for whom Joel would provide transportation to the hospital and back at his own cost. Being a Shriners Clown and Jester brought much joy and pleasure in Joel’s life because he had the personality that could just brighten anyone’s spirit.

Surviving is a brother Johnny Dunlap and wife Dottie, nephews Jay Dunlap, Scott Dunlap and wife Karen, grand nephews and nieces Travis, Eric, Nikki, Kaitlyn and Lauren all of Georgetown, Texas. Longtime friend since age 6 Frank Inman and his daughter Renea De Angelo, God daughter Ariel De Angelo and God son Dustin Adams. He was preceded in death by his parents Noah Benjamin Dunlap and Margaret Fuller Dunlap.

A Service of Celebration and Remembrance will be held 11:00am, Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in the McClure Funeral Home Chapel, 1030 South Main Street, Graham, NC 27253, officiating will be Chaplain Ray Dunlap. Masonic Burial Rites will be given in the funeral home chapel. Immediately following, the family will receive friends.

Memorial donations may be given to the Shriners Children Hospital 950 West Faris Rd. Greenville, SC 29605 · 864-271-3444. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcclurefuneralservice.net.