ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Paul Edward Dundon, of Orange County, Calif., former Marine and for 20 years Garden Grove Unified School District superintendent, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008.

Semper Fi was the guiding principle of Ed’s actions. He lived his life as a true patriot, proud of Marines and country, and of being a young first lieutenant. Ed cared deeply about people, and constantly sought to make a difference in the lives of others.

Born Jan. 21, 1932, in Edinboro, Ed was a son of the late Paul Anson and Marian Bidwell Dundon.

Ed cherished Edinboro’s people and quality of life. A well-rounded student and varsity athlete, he joined the U.S. Marines after college during the Korean War. Following stints with American Sterilizer and IBM, Ed decided that it was in education where he could make the biggest difference. He returned to California, earning his doctorate in educational administration from the University of Southern California.

He is survived by his adoring wife and love of his life, Amy King Dundon, whom he met at USC and married Nov. 8, 1972, and other loving family members. He will be greatly missed and cherished always in our hearts and prayers.

Dr. Dundon’s service to our country, Orange County, and GGUSD was approached with a passion and loyalty that never diminished. Ed’s reputation was as a strong school superintendent, a man of few words and great integrity. He was respected for his understanding of school finances, and known for unyieldingly high standards. His legacy is his underlying principle that children should never suffer due to poor management. In 1993 Ed retired to enjoy travel, special times with family and friends, and pursue other business interests. Upon the county bankruptcy of 1994, the OC board of supervisors recruited Ed to work with school districts. All districts made payrolls, and the board gave him credit for building the foundation that got the county out of bankruptcy. He served as interim superintendent at Tustin Unified in 1995. Ed served on several governors’ advisory committees, was a Southern California City Superintendents member, on the California School Board Association Liaison Committee, a district chairman for Boy Scouts of America and a member of the board of directors for the Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club.

More than 250 friends, neighbors, colleagues and family attended his memorial service on Veterans Day, which fittingly also celebrated the USMC’s 233rd birthday. The service at Fairhaven Waverley Chapel in California included military honors with a four-man Marine Honor Guard and two buglers, folding and presentation of a flag flown over USC and sharing of personal memories by some whose lives he touched.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Frank G. Pogue Student Center on the campus of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, with Pastor Barbara English officiating. Following the memorial service, friends are invited to Edinboro Cemetery for burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund at www.semperfifund.org, or to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund at www.freedomalliance.org.

To send condolences please visit www.gluntfurneralhome.com.