Dunham, Sergt. John Russell 1912-1944

DUNHAM, JONES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 11/6/2016 at 08:46:32

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Mar. 30, 1944

SERGT. JOHN RUSSELL DUNHAM

John Russell Dunham was born at Grinnell, March 28, 1912, the son of E.H. and Harriett G. Dunham and passed away at Ft. Douglass, Utah after an illness of scarlet fever. The cause of his death was an abscess on the brain.

He was graduated from Grinnell High School in the class of 1929 and from Grinnell college in 1933, with two additional years of post graduate work. He spent two years at Colorado University on a Fellowship in Chemistry and took work at the State Teachers college at Greeley. He was teaching in the high school of Crawford, Colo., when he was inducted into the army June 10, 1942, and assigned to the Chemical Impregnating division. First stationed in Maryland, he was transferred to Camp Sibert, Alabama as member of a cadre to establish the camp, prepare roads and camp site. He became a technical sergeant and had charge of furlough's, sick leaves, food distribution, etc., involving much book work. On Dec. 19, 1942, he was married to Mary Paulina Jones, a teacher in the Gadsden high school. Their home was in Gadsden until his company was transferred to Utah May 19, 1943. His wife spent the summer in Salt Lake City to be near him and has made two trips there since the last to be with him in his last days. His death was unexpected and painless.

His body was returned to Gadsden, where funeral services were held at Collier-Butler chapel, Dr. W.A. Shelton officiating. Interment followed in Forrest cemetery, with full military rites. In addition to the customary firing squad, a soldierly detail of five men from each company composed the honor escort. The 338th Army Band accompanied the cortege with muffled drums to the cemetery, where taps were beautifully rendered by the bandsmen. Final prayers were offered at the grave by Chaplain Maurice Knott of the First Regiment, UTC. Eight sergeants, former comrades in arms still in the First Regiment, served as pallbearers.

Besides his wife, Sergeant Dunham is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Dunham, a sister, Miss Marian Dunham, and a brother, Grinnell Dunham, all of Grinnell, and many other relatives and friends both here and in Gadsden, where he had endeared himself to townspeople and Camp Sibert Comrades, by his quiet, unassuming manner and his sincere and friendly character.

Everything possible was done for Sergeant Dunham at the hospital and the Red Cross gave freely of its services to help his wife. Her many friends also gave their services and sympathy. His parents recently received from Congressman Karl LeCompte a letter of condolence, expressing his sympathy with them in the loss of a good son and a good soldier who has won a long furlough from the war.