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James W. Dunham
Posted 11/3/06
James W. Dunham, 98 GEORGETOWN - James W. Dunham of Georgetown died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, in Harrison Senior Living, Georgetown. He was 98. Mr. Dunham was born in Statesboro, Ga., son of the late …
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James W. Dunham
Posted
James W. Dunham, 98
GEORGETOWN - James W. Dunham of Georgetown died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, in Harrison Senior Living, Georgetown. He was 98.
Mr. Dunham was born in Statesboro, Ga., son of the late Harry and Carrie (MacDonald) Dunham.
He moved to Sussex County with his family when he was 8 years old.
He managed a pearl button factory in Georgetown for Leo H. Hirsch & Co. from 1944 until the company closed in 1962. He also served as clerk for the Delaware Insurance Commissioner's Office, Dover, under Robert Short. He and his wife purchased a grocery store after his departure from the commissioner's office. They operated Dunham's Grocery in Georgetown from 1965 until their retirement in 1973.
Mr. Dunham possessed total recall until the end of his life. He also had a vast knowledge of the 20th century, especially local history.
He was blessed with a multitude of loyal friends and relatives and enjoyed sharing with them his philosophy of life and stories about such topics as the Depression, World War II and early Sussex.
When he was young, Mr. Dunham worked on the Dupont Highway, the road around The Circle in Georgetown and Georgetown High School.
When he was medically disqualified for service in the Armed Forces in World War II he supported the war effort through employment at the Dupont Co. in Seaford.
Mr. Dunham was active in the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Republican Club and numerous other community groups. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Georgetown for more than 60 years, where he and his wife often served at luncheons, bazaars and various church functions.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Rhea (King) Dunham in 2002; a daughter, June I. Smith; a son-in-law, Edward J. Dietrich; two brothers, George Dunham and Thomas Dunham; and a sister, Julia Bowden Webb.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Dietrich of Georgetown; a son-in-law, Jerry L. Smith of Seaford; six grandchildren and their spouses, Keith and Helene Smith of Harleysville, Pa., Donya J. and Carl Anderton of Salisbury, Md., Marla J. Carter of Viola, Steve E. and Barb Dietrich of Fredericksburg, Va., Andrea J. and Ralph Prettyman of Milford and Jon Dietrich of Stamford, Conn.; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be 2 p.m. Monday in Grace United Methodist Church, East Market Street, Georgetown, where friends may call one hour earlier.
Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Grace United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 209, Georgetown, DE 19947; or Compassionate Care Hospice, 201B West Dupont Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966.
Arrangements by Short Funeral Services Inc., Georgetown.