Richard Dunham
A graveside service for Midland, Texas resident, Richard Dean Dunham was held at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Fairmount Cemetery with Rev. Calob Rundell of the Wiley United Methodist Church officiating. A Memorial Service was held at the First Baptist Church in Midland, TX on Thursday, February 20, 2014.
Richard was born November 11, 1952 in Lamar, Colorado to Charlie and Lucy Dunham. He passed away at the age of 61 on February 13, 2014 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
After graduating with his Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1974, he went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company. While on an international job assignment in London, Richard met and later married Margaret Olive (Noakes) Dunham on May 3, 1980 in Ashingdon, Essex, England. Richard’s work with Phillips, and later with GPM Gas Corporation, took him to many interesting places, solidifying a love for travel that continued until his death. Having also a love for knowledge and seeing the importance of understanding current issues and influences around him, Richard continued his schooling and earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2003. After an early retirement from the oil industry, Richard started his own company, The Ashingdon Ltd Co. He surrounded himself with quality individuals who have excelled in running the company in his recent absence.
Richard was involved in Rotary International, the Permian Basin Home Builders Association, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was also a member of First Baptist Church and assisted in the media ministry for many years. Richard often said that he was greatly blessed by God, so that he might bless others. As a result, he was dedicated to helping individuals in the community and gave back anywhere and everywhere he could. Later in life, he enjoyed getting outside and running, with the goal of one day completing a marathon.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Dunham; daughter, Emily Dunham; son and daughter-in-law Christian and Lena Dunham; mother, Lucy Dunham; brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Stephanie Dunham; sister-in-law, Jackie Ellis; brother-in-law, Phillip Noakes; niece Karla (Dustin) Rippe; and nephew, Jacob Dunham.
He is preceded in death by his father, Charlie Dean Dunham; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ronald and Olive Noakes; and great-nephew, Karson Dean Rippe.
Richard will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.