Spurgeon Murray Dunnam's Obituary
Rev. Dr. S.M. Dunnam, Jr.
The Rev. Dr. S.M. Dunnam, Jr., was born October 4, 1920, and died January 6, 2009, in Longview, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and daughter and son-in-law Jeannie and Jerry Wallace of Lake Cherokee. His son, Spurgeon M. Dunnam, III, died in 1991.
As a graduate of Austin College, and of Southern Methodist University, where he received both his Master of Sacred Theology and his Doctorate of Ministry degrees, Dr. Dunnam served as a United Methodist minister from 1947 until his retirement in 1986.
Included among the churches Dr. Dunnam served are both Trinity UMC and Wesley UMC in Longview. He was senior minister at churches in Alabama and Florida, Grange Hall, Scottsville, St. Paul's UMC, Baytown, Asbury UMC, Pasadena, First UMC, Tomball, First UMC, Sweeny, First UMC, Waskom, Parkcrest UMC, Houston, and First UMC, Arp. He also was associate minister at St. Paul's UMC, Houston.
Following his retirement, he and his wife and helpmate of 58 years, Thelma Naomi Byers Dunnam settled at Lake Cherokee in Henderson, Texas, where they lived until her death in 2000. He married Ruth Leacock of Palestine, Texas, in 2003, following their serendipitous reacquaintance after a 50 year interval.
Dr. Dunnam was a person of extraordinary intellect and deep principles. His inventive mind took many directions, as he built his own computer long before the advent of personal computers, enjoyed wide use of ham radio, developed his own photographs and assembled their color television. Other pursuits included performing magic shows, working with Boy Scouts, and teaching outdoor camping skills. He continued his lifelong service to God as a volunteer chaplain at Good Shepherd Hospital, preached at Chalk Hill Community Church, and served as guest preacher at area churches. He taught Sunday School at Wesley McCabe UMC until his death.
Additional survivors include his grandchildren, Jason and Jody Wallace of Dallas. Delilah Ray and husband Kurt, Delayna Griffith and husband Chris, both of Mesquite, and Daniel Dunnam of NYC, daughter-in-law, Dottie Dunnam and her husband Charlie Tupper, of Dallas, and 4 great grandchildren; Vanessa, Isaac, and Virginia Ray, and Miriam Griffith; Brother and sister-in-law, Rev. D. Harrall and Rita Dunnam of College Station, TX; sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Dick Amos of Kingwood, TX; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2008 at Wesley/McCabe United Methodist Church, Longview with the Reverend Virginia Wall officiating. Burial follow at 4:30 p.m. in Restland Cemetery, Waskom, TX under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and at 1 p.m. Thursday prior to the service at the church.
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