James Dean Dunham

James Dean Dunham, son of John and Rose Dunham, was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on October 28 1943. He passed away on the morning of Tuesday, January 18, 2012 at the age of 68, due to complications of COPD, a respiratory disease. He was, at the time, a resident of Wolf Creek, Oregon and was called from this life three days after being admitted to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass, his son, James, at his side.

He and the love of his life, Maxine Lambert, were raised next door to one another in Merlin, Oregon and years later, when they met again at a community picnic at Indian Mary State Park, they made a lifelong commitment to share their lives together. Sadly, Maxine preceded Jim in the summer of 2006.

From January 3, 1961 to January 21, 1965 Jim served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Then, again, from July 1, 1965 to June 30, 1967 he served with honor in the Marine Corps, taking the utmost pride as a two-time Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran in service to his country.

Among the things he enjoyed were fishing and camping, and he had a passion for football –especially for NFL Football and his favorite team, the Oakland Raiders. In addition, he enjoyed watching old John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe movies, learning about Native American culture, and supporting disabled veterans via the Wounded Warriors Project. But by far, in recent years, his greatest love were his two grand daughters, who affectionately nicknamed him Grandpa “Catfish” due to his love of fishing and his whiskers. During their visits to see him, he would sneak Sacajawea coins into their shoes while they were asleep, and they would awaken with delight to those special gifts from a doting grandpa. At Christmas he would gift them with an enormous jar of coins that he had collected throughout the year.

James Dunham is survived by James Dunham Lambert, Jr., the son of Maxine Lambert, whom he raised as his own son from the age of five (1978) and whom he later adopted legally as his son. He is also survived by Malia Ann Kimiyo Yoshida Lambert and two granddaughters, Noelani Ann Elina Lambert and Kanani Mina Rose Lambert.

Jim is survived by siblings Janiece Castor (Grand Junction); Ray Johnson (Montana); John Dunham (Albany, Oregon); and Betty Terry (Oroville, California). He was preceded by siblings Irene Ash (Grand Junction); Jack Johnson (Grand Junction); and Bill Johnson (Medford, Oregon).

A Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Friday, February 10, 3:00 pm sharp, at the Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Road, Eagle Point, Oregon 97524. Phone: (541) 826-2511. (http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/eaglepoint.asp)

Donations may be made the Wounded Warrior Project in his name: 877.TEAM.WWP (832.6997) [https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/]

“Semper Fi”