Dr. William King Dunham Jr.

Dr. William King Dunham, Jr. passed away on February 20th in his home. Dr. Dunham was preceded in death by his mother, Lorena Dunham; his father, William King Dunham Sr.; and his brother Joseph Jones (Joe) Dunham. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Judith Walter Dunham: his brother Robert Hall (Bob) Dunham; his 4 children; Stephanie Jan Kies, Blair Dunham Greene, William King Dunham III, and Benjamin Walter Dunham, and his 5 grandchildren; Lilian Wylette Kies, Cecilia Judith Dunham, William King Dunham IV (Will), Morgan Dunham Greene, and Walter Burton Dunham.

Dr. Dunham or “Doc” as he was known was a man of healing and compassion. He loved and led his wife and family well, but most importantly he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with his whole heart. Doc was a regionally acclaimed orthopedic surgeon and oncologist for over 3 decades. He saved many people’s lives by surgery and treatment and improved the lives of many more by his caring bedside manner and true compassion for the hurting and broken. In his 50’s Doc changed medical specialties and transitioned to palliative care for the dying. He was the director of Hospice in St. Clair County and headed up the palliative care unit at Cooper Green Hospital in downtown Birmingham.

Besides his medical work, Doc also impacted the lives of many at his church, Meadow Brook Baptist, where he served as a deacon for many years. Because of his friendship with Pastor Morrell Todd, he was the initiator of the partnership that has lasted to this day of Meadow Brook Baptist with ACIPCO Baptist Church. He was involved with Jimmie Hale Mission where he served meals, gave, preached, and was part of the prison ministry. Doc saw it as his ministry to be the personal doctor for the members of Meadow Brook church community and was the volunteer director of the Community of Hope Health Clinic, a ministry of the Shelby Baptist Association. He went on many medical missions trips to Haiti’s Lumiere Hospital, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.

Doc was a Renaissance man who loved raising cattle and working with his hands. He was a pilot, loved shrimping and fishing off the coast of Dauphin Island, AL, was an avid bird hunter, loved to travel, played the banjo, and was a gifted artist. He was a constant learner who loved learning about other cultures, theology, and history particularly WWII. He will be sorely missed by the medical community, his friends, church, and family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Spina Bifida Association of Alabama or The Exceptional Foundation.

A visitation will be held for Doctor Dunham at Meadow Brook Baptist Church at 10 to 12 on Saturday February 26th which will be immediately followed by a memorial.

Meadow Brook Baptist Church

4984 Meadow Brook Rd,

Birmingham, AL 35242

SPINA BIFIDA ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA

P.O. Box 35

Gadsen, AL 35902

The Exceptional Foundation

1610 Oxmoor Road

Birmingham, AL 35209