He was born June 15, 1919, at Yuma, Colorado; the son of Clarence and Jessie Wilson Dunafon.

He spent his early childhood in Colorado and Nebraska, until moving to Russell with his parents in a covered wagon at the age of five. He attended school in Russell until his junior year in high school, when his family moved back to Colorado.

Wayne, who was a rodeo competitor, was the Rodeo Cowboy Association's world champion runner-up in steer wrestling in 1956. While on the rodeo circuit. Wayne started an acting career.

He landed modeling and acting jobs with Lee Rider jeans, Firestone tires and Chevrolet pickups, but he because known internationally as the Marlboro Man.
Wayne married Lorraine Ferguson on July 10, 1958, in Missouri. She survives.

Other survivors include; a son, Doug Dunafon, Westmoreland; a daughter, Wendy Dunafon, Westmoreland; and five grandchildren.