Obituary of Dennis C. Dunham

Dennis C. Dunham October 20, 1930 - March 28, 2011 Dennis Clifton Dunham born October 21, 1930 to Joda L. and Thekla (Bobbie) Dunham in La Porte, Texas. Graduated from La Porte High School in 1948 then attended Wharton Junior College. Dennis joined the Marine Corps. In 1950, and became a tank commander with the rank of sergeant during the Korean War. In 1951 he married Essie Pearl Roper while home on leave, and relocated to Camp Pendleton California. Following his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps., Dennis worked in area industries until he was hired as a career firefighter for the City of la Porte Fire Department. After completing his B.S. degree from Sam Houston State University he worked as a safety engineer for the insurance industry, followed by teaching Industrial Fire Technology at San Jacinto Jr. College. While working at the college, he continued to work the family business, Dunham’s Tax Service which his father started in the 1950’s. Dennis taught many years at the Texas Volunteer Firefighter’s Summer Fire School at Texas A&M University and helped train many members of the La Porte Volunteer Fire Department over the years. In his spare time Dennis was a true outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, and gardening to provide for his family. His love of the Fire Service and the outdoors was instilled upon him by his father and has been passed down to his son, son in law, and his grandson all who are volunteer firefighters in La Porte and enjoy the outdoors. Dennis is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Essie Pearl. He is survived by a brother Arlen Dunham and wife Billie, his sister Arlene Berges and husband Herman, son John (Champ) Dunham and wife Pam, daughters Denise Holley and husband Carl, and Laura Dunham. Grandchildren Cara Kaminski and husband Chad, Christa Holley, Chad Holley and wife Teia, Jody Wright and husband David, Katy Parker and husband Dustin, great grandchildren Kyle Kaminski, Victoria (Gracie) Kaminski, Alexis Holley, Chad Clifton Holley, Caison Holley, Fisher Wright, and Emersyn Paige (Emmy) Wright. Visitation will be held Thursday March 31, 2011 at 6-8PM at Paul U. Lee La Porte Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be held Friday April 1, 2011 at 3PM at La Porte Community Church. In lieu of usual remembrances donations may be made to the Hope Foundation, for Retarded Children, 15403 Hope Village Road, Friendswood, TX 77546, in memory of Dennis and Essie Pearl Dunham.