Monday, April 8, 2013

Average Life Expectancy of 6 Generations of Dunagan Men

My 4th Great Grandfather Ezekiel Dunagan 1771-1836,  died at age 65 (After fathering 19 children with two wives, I imagine that he was tired)
My 3rd Great Grandfather Joseph Ellis Dunagan 1793-1861, died at age 68 (After his third trip to the west to prospect for gold, he took the "fever" when returning from Pikes Peak to Georgia in 1861. He probably died of pneumonia. He was buried somewhere in Illinois.)
My 2nd Great Grandfather John Franklin Dunagan 1832-1890, died at age 58 (He served in the Confederacy, numerous battles, captured at Vicksburg, spent time as a POW at Ft. Delaware. The Georgia Infantry unit he served with was so decimated that they had to be merged with a TN Regiment. Not sure if he was wounded but probably suffered from malnutrition and dysentery during the war.)
My Great Grandfather Jeter Andrew Dunagan 1856-1923, died at age 67 (Died from injuries suffered when he fell off of a house he was building.)
My Grandfather William Andrew Dunagan 1880-1939, died at age 59 (Suffered from heart disease and complications from diabetes.)
My Father George Jeter Dunagan 1913-2006, died at age 93 (Lived a long and productive life, ultimately died from kidney failure.)

Going back 6 generations on my father's side, the average life expectancy of Dunagan men in my direct line was 68 years and 3 months. Of course, my father, George Jeter Dunagan, lived the longest, to age 93, which probably throws off the numbers on average. If I take George Dunagan out of the total average, then the average life expectancy for Dunagan men would drop to 63 years and 4 months.

I am turning 60 years old in a few weeks and this little exercise has helped remind me of my own mortality and just how short life really is.

1 comment:

  1. Poor Willi B..this means you have 8 years and 3 months left to live or worst case senario you will be dead before you reach my age. We better go celebrate our birthdays before one of us doesn't have one. Love ya, cuz!!

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