Co-creator of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner dies

Roy Dunton, a longtime Route 66 resident who with his son built Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner and a slew of automotive businesses in Kingman, Arizona, died last week at age 95.

According to an obituary in the Kingman Daily Miner, Roy and Scott Dunton built and leased out Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, a landmark in that city. He also became a regular at the restaurant, famous for its ’50s decor, house-made root beer and a visit from Oprah Winfrey.

Roy and Scott Dunton also started Dunton & Dunton and Dunton Motors Dream Machines in Kingman and Dunton Motors in nearby Bullhead City.

The obituary states Roy Dunton, born Franklin Roy Dunton in Spokane, Washington, lived most of his life on Route 66. He first moved to the Mother Road to Goldroad, Arizona, at age 17, then to nearby Cool Springs, Arizona.

Route 66 author Jim Hinckley notes on his blog:

 In the 1946 book,  A Guide Book To Route 66 by Jack Rittenhouse there is a segment on Sitgreaves Pass. “For eastbound cars which cannot make the Gold Hill grade, a filling station in Goldroad offers a tow truck which will haul your car to the summit. At last inquiry their charge was $3.50, but may be higher. Cars with trailer may need this service.” That garage belonged to N.R. Dunton, the fellow who built Cool Springs in 1926. Quite often the driver of that tow truck was Roy Dunton, who had went to work in the family garage shortly before WWII.

Roy Dunton relocated to Kingman and began a series of automotive dealerships and shops.

During World War II, Dunton was stationed on a minesweeper — coincidentally named USS 66 — in the Yellow China Sea.

The obituary ends on these notes:

Roy Dunton led a wonderful life with a wonderful wife and leaves an amazing legacy with his family and all the friends and people that knew him. He was on Route 66 for 79 years. He loved Kingman and could have gone to Vegas, Phoenix or California and had huge dealerships and made a lot more money. It was never important; he loved Kingman and its people.

We will celebrate his life with lots of food and pictures at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the Old Elks building. It will be a potluck; BYOB. Anyone who knew Roy is welcome. We are making lots of meat, potatoes and coleslaw, so bring your favorite dish. No flowers please; donations may be made to our local Route 66 Association of Kingman.

(Image of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arzona, by Drew Bates via Flickr)