Adele Beatrice Dunham

She was born in New Mexico (July 12th 1935) where she gained a love of spicy foods and a respect for Native American culture. She lived to celebrate 90 years. She moved to California as a teenager and raised three children there. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Hydrology, all while raising her family. She had academic and career honors and accomplishments too numerous to list. She was a contributor to water reclamation projects when they were new to environmental engineering. She dared greatly in a time when women who pursued these types of achievements often were not welcome. Her family is most proud of her in this regard. She served 50 years as a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California and received recognition from the State for her years of service. She was a member of Toast Masters. She drove a VW bus in the sixties and a Datsun 280 Z when she became an empty nester. She was a role model in finding your God-given talent and using it for the good, as well as in demonstrating a good work ethic. She will be remembered for her love of telling stories.

After retirement, she enjoyed a quiet life, continuing to feed her curiosities through voracious reading and solving word and number puzzles. A truer lover of animals would be hard to find. She loved and cared for her fur babies right up to the end. She enjoyed her home, crocheting, gardening and music. She was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her family is most grateful for the love and care her church family provided her in her later years.

She was preceded in death by her mother Ruth Sellers and her brother Nate Dunham. She is survived by her three children: Stephen Miller and wife Bobbie Miller, Joan Martin and husband Kevin Martin and Lee Kimball; as well as eight grandchildren: Steve Miller and wife Kelli Miller, Michelle Hill and husband Cliff Hill, Ryan Miller and wife Hillary Miller, Jamie Miller and wife Talia Miller, Missi Zimmer and husband Ben Zimmer, Tom Trott and wife Anne Trott, Abby Oliva and husband Jesse Oliva, Hannah Garcia and husband Miguel Garcia; and sixteen great grandchildren: Jacob Miller, Braeden Miller, Owen Miller, Lyla Miller, Maeve Miller, Hudson Zimmer, Graham Zimmer, Connor Zimmer, Teagan Trott, Joshua Trott, Cora Lee Oliva, JT Oliva, Brittany Garcia, Gracelyn Brown, Miky Garcia and Elnora Garcia.

A Celebration of Life, to be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Ontario California will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your local Humane Society or cat rescue organization.