Dustin Joseph Fry

Dustin Joseph Fry, loving son, brother, and cat-dad passed away at the age of 34 on Sunday, January 31st, 2021 in Blountville, Tennessee.

Dustin was born in Berwyn, Illinois. He lived around the world, including: Bangkok, Thailand, Burlington, Iowa, and Kingsport, Tennessee. He graduated from Burlington Community High School in 2004 and received his Associates of Arts degree from Southeastern Community College. Dustin loved traveling and talked about getting a farm in Oregon.  He adopted a Westie puppy, Avril, who continues to thrive and is the apple of her grandparents’ eyes. He shared a kitten with his kind roommate, who will carry on parenthood of the kitten, in his memory.

Dustin: The Man. The Myth. The Legend loved women, cats & dogs, cars, guns, good food and good whiskey. (He seemed to prefer Kentucky’s Jim Beam, but he lived in Tennessee, so that will be our little secret.) He adored playing his guitar and was quite good at it. Growing up, Dustin was a gifted, true ace baseball pitcher. Many said he was good enough to go pro.

When he was little, his teacher asked the students what they would like to be when they grow up. Dustin answered, “Big.” He continued to have a unique perspective that made him a fascinating person. No one was ever going to sit next to him or meet up with him and say he was boring, 110 percent guaranteed. Plus, he probably would have charmed the pants off of them.  We are happy to say he achieved his goal to be “big”: He had a strong, big, charismatic spirit that invited mischievous demons to pester him. He stayed courageous in his zest for life and pursuit of happiness and true love.

He will be deeply missed by his parents, Dr. Norman Fry and Jeannette Fry of Burlington, Iowa; brothers Brandon, Brooks (Tao), and sister Molly; Avril (Westie dog); Aunt Judy Dinneweth, Uncle Roy (Carol) Votava; nephews Keegan and Bailey, and niece Lalita. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas and Phyllis Fry; Joseph and Rose Votava; Uncles Rene Dinneweth, Thomas Fry, Mitchell Fry, and Joseph Votava.

It is Dustin’s time to begin a new journey.  While we grieve his young passing, there is light and freedom in letting go, and so we celebrate his life and are grateful for the precious time we had with him. We ask you to raise a strong glass to Dustin and remember a fond memory. We know he is somewhere mischievously raising hell and grinning away.

This obituary is written with knowledge and intent he would get a kick out of it. Here is one of the last poems he posted and rather fitting:

Stars

are my

favorite color of burn.

And I will love you

until

every last one of them

leaves the sky.  

 -Erin Van Vuren

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