Linda Raye Dunham

Linda was born on the 15th of October 1940, in Beaumont, Texas, to Dorothy and G.R. Burns of Ada, Oklahoma. She married her childhood sweetheart, Archie Dunham, on the 7th of June 1960 at First Baptist Church in Ada, where they both grew up. Linda was 13, and Archie was 15, when they had their first date at a church hayride.

In 2003, Linda was recognized by Inspire Women of Houston as the “Woman Behind the Man.” Linda shared at the event, “All I ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother.” Her testament of being a wife and a mother was evidenced by her marriage to Archie of nearly 63 years, and the Christ centered life of her three children, Steven, Laura, and Cary, her eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She was always a prayer warrior for Archie and their children. On numerous occasions, Archie would say, “Everything that I’ve accomplished in life is a consequence of having Linda by my side. She is the wind beneath my wings, the smile that gives me purpose, and the child-like giggle that gives me joy.” Linda loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother more than anything else! She was a Boy Scout Den Mother, a Girl Scout Troop Leader, a sports team score keeper, and a home room mother. She loved her children and grandchildren.

Linda was devoted to her husband, Archie, and his career with Conoco and ConocoPhillips. She traveled the world with him for twenty years as they visited the countries where Conoco and ConocoPhillips had employees. Linda would meet with the employees’ spouses in each country to learn of their needs and what the company could do to meet these needs. For example, in 1996, the ExPat spouses in Russia needed to be able to call their husbands in an emergency, but no one spoke English. So Linda arranged for all of them to have suitcase size cell phones. She enjoyed traveling and had friends all around the world. Archie and Linda were always together and always in love with each other. They would always sign the cards and notes they gave to each other with the letters T.L.N.D. – “True love never dies.”

Linda’s favorite scripture in the Bible was found in the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The last words she would share with her children when they left for school each day were, “You know who loves you. Be ye kind.” 1 Corinthians 13 is a reflection of Linda’s life, her love for her Savior, her love for her husband and family, and her love for her friends and others.

Linda was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship for many years, and active in the Houston Christian University Guild. The new nursing complex being constructed at Houston Christian University will be named the “Dunham Family Nursing Center” and the School of Nursing the “Linda Dunham School of Nursing.”

Linda was a member of the Little Church Foundation Board and oversaw the distribution of needed resources to small churches across the country. She taught young married adults with Archie at multiple churches where they lived across the years. Linda would call the young wives every week, mentoring them, hosting baby showers for the new mothers, and teaching them how to be faithful wives and godly mothers. Hundreds of young people from small towns in America have received scholarships from Linda R. Dunham Endowments at the University of Oklahoma and Houston Christian University.

In Proverbs 31, the writer says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but she excels them all.” Linda walked closely with her Savior Jesus Christ and prayed for her family daily.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, G.R. and Dorothy Burns of Ada, Oklahoma; and her brother, Cliff Burns of Castle Rock, Colorado. She is survived by her husband, Archie Dunham of Houston; son, Steven Dunham and his wife Ronda of Long Beach, California; daughter, Laura Shook and her husband Mark of Cypress, Texas; and son, Cary Dunham and his wife Jess of Houston. She is also survived by her grandson, Christopher Dunham and wife Jaime, and their children Wes, Will, and Jack of Long Beach, California; grandson, Eric Dunham and his wife Jordan of Long Beach, California; grandson, David Shook and his wife Alana and their child Archie Lyle of Marshall, California; granddaughter, Sarah May and her husband Tyler, and their children Zoë and Owen of Denver, Colorado; granddaughter, Ashley Love and her husband Adam, and their child Arden, also of Denver Colorado; granddaughters, Sydney Moore and her husband Ryan, and Chandler Dunham and her fiancé Carl, all of Atlanta, Georgia; and grandson, Bryce Dunham of Golden, Colorado. Linda loved her family more than anything else!

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Barbara Brooks, to all the caregivers from Family Tree Private Care, especially Bridget Kizenga-West and Chi Chi A. Willhite, and to the nurses from Vantage Home Hospice who have cared for Linda during the last few weeks. Your kindness and compassion will always be remembered. The family is especially grateful for the care and love given to Linda by her primary care physician, Dr. Nancy Esper.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 26th of April 2023, in the library and grand foyer if Geo. H. Lewis & Sons1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 27th of April 2023, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young, Pastor of Second Baptist Church and Dr. Mark Shook, Pastor of Community of Faith, are to officiate.

Prior to the service, the family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to Community of Faith, 16124 Becker Rd., Hockley, TX, 77447, designated for the Community Counseling Center.

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