The Dunder family in 1963: clockwise from left – George, Terrence, Neil, Virginia and Roger. This was shortly before they left for Africa. Photo courtesy of Roger Dunder.

Dunder, Virginia (1921–2022)

By Godfrey K. Sang

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Godfrey K. Sang is a historical researcher and writer with an interest in Adventist history. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and a number of qualifications from other universities. He is a published author. He is the co-author of the book On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya

First Published: December 11, 2023

Alma Virginia Dunder, née Closser, was a missionary to Tanzania and Kenya with her husband, George, spending 11 years in both countries with the bulk of it in Tanzania.

Missionary to Kenya and Tanzania

“Virginia,” as she was popularly known, was born on February 15, 1921, in Indiana in the United States. She was the daughter of Charles Vernon Closer (1897-1983) and Loise Sarah McCord Closser (1899-1981). The Closers lived on a 40-acre piece of land near Alexandria, Indiana. Virginia was the eldest of six children, with Florence (b. 1922), Wilma Jean (b. 1923), Gilbert (b. 1925), Franklin (b. 1933), and Darlene (b. 1941).1 In 1940, she graduated from Frankton High School before joining Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), where she graduated on June 1, 1947, with a B.A. degree in Religion. She began working as a Bible instructor from 1947 until 1950. On June 25, 1950, she married George Dunder, and together they raised three boys--Terrence (b. 1953), Neil (b. 1955), and Roger (b. 1959).

Missionary to Tanzania

Her husband George was called to missionary service as a teacher in Tanzania. He had been a school principal in both Indiana and Tennessee. In December 1963, the Dunders left for Tanzania and would end up at the Ikizu Training School in northern Tanzania near Musoma.2 For lack of better transport, the entire family travelled on a freighter that carried cattle for export from the United States. After several weeks at sea, they eventually arrived in Mombasa and travelled by train to Kisumu, then by lake steamer to Musoma, and then by road to Ikizu. They arrived at Ikizu early in 1964 in time for the start of the school year.

Mrs. Dunder began working at the Ikizu Training School as a domestic science teacher.3 She also took up a position in the secondary section as a religious studies instructor.

As a missionary spouse, she took upon herself to attend to those in need within the area near the school. The need was great in the mission field, and the challenges of mission life enormous indeed. She loved to sew, so she made clothes that she distributed to those who could not afford to buy new garments. She also planted a garden, growing tomatoes and other vegetables that she used to feed her family. Other than preparing meals for her family, she would also occasionally prepare a special meal for the students at Ikizu, particularly for Sabbath lunch. She loved to cook and always entertained guests at her home each Sabbath during lunch.4 She also conducted Outreach, teaching at various Sabbath Schools in the Ikizu area.

Moving to Kenya

With the political changes in Tanzania that began in 1967, it became increasingly difficult for foreign missionaries to operate in that country. Many of the European and American missionaries had to leave. Her husband George was the last of the white missionaries to run the institution, eventually handing it over to Thomas Lisso. The Dunders remained on the teaching staff. In 1972, George was called to run the Maxwell Preparatory School in Nairobi, Kenya. The family moved to Nairobi, Kenya, to work at the school. Two of the Dunder children had already gone through the institution. Virginia served as the school “cateress” and was responsible for the daily meals for the school.

Return to the United States

While climbing Mt. Kenya in 1973, her husband developed a numbness in his feet, so he went to the hospital to have it checked. His doctor recommended spinal surgery, which sadly went all wrong, leaving him permanently disabled. This forced the Dunders to cut short their missionary sojourn, so they returned to the United States. They settled in Cicero in their native Indiana. George, who had served in the U.S. Army as a non-combatant in Korea, was admitted to the Veteran’s Hospital in Indianapolis where he underwent additional surgeries.5 When he was discharged, he was still not able to walk and needed constant care. This left Virginia as his primary caregiver, and she dutifully and patiently carried out that task for nearly 40 years until November 2012 when Roger passed away.

Virginia Dunder was known for her positive attitude and “a rock-solid Christian example.”6 Whenever the family was discouraged due to the problems encountered by the now quadriplegic patriarch, she would say, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all we have to do is follow.” She always started her day with Bible study and prayer and ended her day on her knees in prayer at her bedside. She was an active Adventist, even serving as an usher at her local church until she was 98 years old. She passed away on December 2, 2022, at the age of 101. She was survived by her three sons.

Sources

Mwita, Alexander. “Ikizu High School, Tanzania.” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, January 20, 2020. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6FAZ&.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

  1. Roger Dunder, interview by the author at Maxwell Adventist Academy, Mbagathi, Advent Hill Campus, Nairobi, September 6, 2023.

  2. Alexander Mwita “Ikizu High School, Tanzania,” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, January 20, 2020, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6FAZ&.

  3. “Ikizu Training School,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, (Review & Herald, 1964), 292.

  4. Roger Dunder, interview by the author at Maxwell Adventist Academy, Mbagathi, Advent Hill Campus, Nairobi, September 6, 2023.

  5. Ibid.

  6. Ibid.

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Sang, Godfrey K. "Dunder, Virginia (1921–2022)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. December 11, 2023. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6JMN.

Sang, Godfrey K. "Dunder, Virginia (1921–2022)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. December 11, 2023. Date of access November 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6JMN.

Sang, Godfrey K. (2023, December 11). Dunder, Virginia (1921–2022). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved November 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6JMN.