Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
FRED NOBLE DUNHAM
Baskin, LA
A memorial service for Fred Noble Dunham will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, August 1, at Friendship Baptist Church in Baskin, LA. Mr. Dunham died July 26 at the age of 80. Dr. David Savage will officiate the service.
Mr. Dunham was born Dec. 31, 1928 to Noble and Grace Dunham, both deceased. He graduated from Baskin High School and attended LA Tech Uni. There, he played basketball for the Men's Varsity Team until 1952. His education was postponed when he joined the US Air Force where he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorably discharged. His college education resumed in 1956, graduating in 1958.
After returning home to care for the family farm, Mr. Dunham began his teaching career at Baskin High School in 1962. He taught General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Drivers Education for 24 years. For 11 years, he coached the boys' basketball team and was Assistant Principle for 13 years. In 1973, he joined the Nat'l Guard Army Reserves where he reached the rank of E6 Mess Steward before retiring from the Guard in 1983. After retiring from the Franklin Parish School System in 1986, Mr. Dunham taught briefly at Franklin Academy in Winnsboro and Tallulah Academy in Tallulah.
Mr. Dunham loved the land and through out his life continued to manage the family farming enterprise until his death. His love of conservation, nature, and plant life was his inspiration for cutting trails and labeling plant life at Nature's Acre for the Franklin Parish School Board. The Section of land is a nature preserve and teaching ground. Mr. Dunham was always a student of botany. His mentor and advisor was Dr. R. Dale Thomas, Botany Professor at ULM, whom he admired greatly.
Mr. Dunham is survived by his wife of 55 years, Roberta King Dunham; 2 daughters, Jo Traylor and husband Scottie of West Monroe, Camille Spencer and her children Jason Dunham and Sharon Spencer of Baskin: 3 sons, Robert Dunham of Baskin, William ``Pat'' Dunham and wife Veronica and their child Adrianna of Barstow, CA, and Lesley Dunham of Baskin. He is survived by 2 brothers, Thomas Earl Dunham and wife Mary of Clinton, MS and Bob F. Dunham of Lafayette, CA. He is survived by sisters-in-law Floy Dunham of Baskin, JoMae McEacharn and husband James of Crowville, sister-in-law Rhoda Mercer of Delhi and aunts Frances Lyles of Mangham, Mary Deggans of Monroe, and Kitty Deggans of Fort Worth and many nieces and nephews and cousins. He left behind many dear friends and former students.
Always a scientist and educator, Mr. Dunham donated his body to Genesis Medical Education & Research Inst. in Memphis, TN, so that his death could continue his work. Burial will be at a later date. Tall in stature, rooted in the soil, kind in nature, he was a mighty Oak.
Memorials may be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, LA
Friday, July 31, 2009