Steven Alan Dunlap, 70, passed away on September 15, 2026, surrounded by his wife and daughters, after a brief illness.

Steve was born on April 26, 1956, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Jack Boren Dunlap and Mary Sue Madewell Dunlap. The Dunlap family moved around during Steve’s early years before settling in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Jack began his career with Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. Steve grew up in Greensboro and graduated from Western Guilford High School in 1974.

Steve excelled on the football and baseball fields at Western Guilford, serving as co-captain of the football team. He was also recognized for his leadership and character, earning academic and athletic honors, being named Best Citizen, and serving as a class officer. However, the greatest thing he took with him from high school was a group of lifelong friends who remained part of his life for more than five decades. Even in his later years, many of those friends still spoke with him every week.

After high school, Steve attended Elon College, where he continued playing baseball and football as a first baseman and defensive end. After less-than-stellar grades one semester, his father, who was an incredible example of how far hard work and education could take you, eventually told Steve it was time to be on his own. As Jack famously put it, “YOYO” — “You’re On Your Own.”

Steve returned to Greensboro and worked his way through UNCG, mowing the expansive grounds of the Pilot Life Club building on High Point Road, bussing tables, and taking on whatever work he could find to pay his own tuition. He graduated from UNC Greensboro with honors.

It was also during this time that Steve’s mother suggested he “give that Ratledge girl a call” and see what she was up to. Steve took her advice, reconnecting with Charlotte “Sue” Ratledge, whom he had known since high school. That call began a love story that would last nearly 47 years.

Steve spent his career in the retirement and 401(k) industry, beginning as an agent with Jefferson-Pilot in Greensboro. His ability to connect with people made him a successful salesman and sales coach. In 1986, Steve and Sue moved to Greenville, South Carolina, with their daughters, Allyson and Kelly. There, Steve opened the Greenville agency, and the family enjoyed several years together before returning to Greensboro, where he remained with Jefferson-Pilot until 2000. He later worked with Transamerica, Pan-American, and BB&T.

Back in Greensboro, the family settled into the Adams Farm neighborhood, where they lived until the girls graduated from Ragsdale High School. Unfortunately for Steve, the house was zoned for Ragsdale, a longtime rival of his beloved Western Guilford. He never let his daughters forget his displeasure and would jokingly threaten to spit on the field whenever he attended one of their school or athletic events. It was classic Steve: loyal, fiercely competitive, and always ready with a joke.

In 2004, Steve and Sue left Greensboro and became permanent beach bums in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina. Steve thrived on the coast. A lifelong hater of cold weather, he loved a 90-degree beach day with a good breeze, a John Grisham or Dean Koontz thriller in his hand, and Sue beside him. They loved their life at the beach and the memories they made there.

Every February, they escaped to their favorite place, Siesta Key, Florida, where they had honeymooned nearly five decades earlier. They had plans to return again just one week after Steve’s passing.

Sue understood and loved every part of Steve’s big personality. He was loud, funny, quick with a joke, and rarely the quietest person in the room. He loved being the life of the party and had more friends than he could count. One of his favorite parts of the day was calling those friends in the evening to catch up. Sue loved watching him light up a room, knowing that beneath it all, his heart was with her and the life they had built together.

Steve’s love of sports remained a constant throughout his life. He loved playing and watching golf and was fortunate enough to play famous courses around the world. He also grew to love Sue’s favorite sport, tennis, playing with her and with the men at CCCC. He especially looked forward to the legendary Dunlap family holiday tennis tournament, where he was often paired with his other favorite southpaw, his daughter Kelly.

Steve was also a lifelong Tennessee Volunteer fan, a passion passed down from his father, Jack. He and Jack loved attending games at Neyland Stadium together, and Steve remained a devoted Vol through the highs of the Peyton Manning years and the many lows that followed. Win or lose, Steve was a Vol.

Steve was competitive in everything he did, from sports and work to trying to beat Allyson at Jeopardy. He held high standards for himself and expected the same from his daughters. He wanted them to work hard, do things the right way, and make the most of their opportunities.

Steve was especially close with both of his daughters, who were always “Ally P” and “Doodlebug.” With Allyson, he was a constant sounding board and trusted guide, helping her navigate her career and personal life. He loved attending Carolina Panthers games with her and was incredibly proud to walk her down the aisle when she married Matt less than three years ago. With Kelly, he was a gym buddy, tennis partner, and jokester, and their relationship was filled with laughs and teasing.

To those who knew him, Steve was a class act and a devoted family man. His personality filled a room, but his greatest pride was the family and friendships he built throughout his life.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Jack Boren Dunlap, and his parents-in-law, Nancy and Hayes Ratledge.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 47 years, Charlotte “Sue” Ratledge Dunlap; his mother, Mary Sue Madewell Dunlap; his daughters, Allyson Dunlap Shortall and her husband, Matt Shortall, and Kelly Brooks Dunlap; his brother, Mark Dunlap and his wife, Cindy; and several nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, extended family members, and lifelong friends.

Steve will be deeply missed by the many people who loved him, but his stories, jokes, friendships, and the life he built with Sue and his girls will live on.

A celebration of Steve’s enormous life will be held October 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Crystal Coast Civic Center, 203 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557. A reception will follow.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.