William Frank Dunham was born in Gorman, Texas on February 26, 1944 to Faye Irene Taber Dunham and W.C. (William Carey) Dunham, while his dad was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific in WW II. He spent his early life in Comanche, Texas and later in Corpus Christi. By the time he started to school he and his parents were living in Brownwood, Texas where he attended all twelve grades, graduating in 1962.
He received his BS degree in Education from Howard Payne College in 1966, following his mom’s footsteps in his choice of career. He taught school in San Angelo and Mesquite before joining the faculty at San Marcos Baptist Academy for three years. During this time he received his MEd from Southwest Texas State University. He taught school in Lampasas for 1 ½ years before coming to Howard Payne University to serve as an Admissions Counselor for two years.
While at Howard Payne he met and married Mary Griffin. Bill and Mary were married at the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church on December 28, 1974. In 1976, he and his growing family returned to Lampasas, where he taught for eight more years. In 1984, the family moved back to Brownwood, where he finished his teaching career at Coggin Elementary, before his declining health forced him into early retirement. Bill passed from this life on Good Friday, April 22, 2011 while residing at the Brownwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Bill loved to sing, and during his lifetime, he often led the singing at area churches during revivals. He was the song leader at Blanket First Baptist Church, Westover Baptist Church in San Marcos and the Brownwood Country Club Acres Baptist Church. In every place and at every opportunity Bill witnessed for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Although declining health kept him homebound and later in and out of area nursing homes, Bill never lost an opportunity to make a friend. He loved people and loved to find out about them and talk to them about their interests.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Mary Griffin Dunham; two sons Nathan Andrew Dunham of Austin; Daniel Thomas Dunham of Brownwood; and a daughter Sarah Pernecie Dunham of Brownwood, mother-in-law Marilyn Griffin of Brownwood, and a host of friends and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services for William Frank (Bill) Dunham will be held 2:00 P.M. Monday, April 25, 2011 at Eastlawn Memorial Park with Richard Ivy officiating. The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Sunday at Heartland Funeral Home.
