Barbara Ann Dunnam

Barbara Ann Wilder Dunnam passed away on November 23, 2021, in her sleep at 82 years of age, following a short illness. She died in her home in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas with her husband, Kenneth O’Dell Dunnam by her side.

Barbara was born on December 29, 1938, at the Austin State Hospital where her parents worked, attended Baker Junior High School and graduated from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas in 1956, while living at home with her mother, Mildred Nadine, father, William Joseph “Buster” Wilder, older siblings, James Edward and Thomas Winfield, and younger siblings, Patricia Louise and Nancy Nadine on Karen Avenue. She was a member of the McCallum Blue Brigade and for a short time in the McCallum Band playing drums in high school. She worked in Austin at several downtown stores, until she met and married Kenneth. Shortly after their marriage in Austin on August 22, 1958, Kenneth joined the Army and the couple lived in several different places, including Houston, Texas where she worked for Uncle Ben’s Rice as an administrative assistant. She worked in Houston until she gave birth to her first child, Diana Christine. Kenneth was honorably discharged from the Army and their small family moved back to Austin and lived in a mobile home in the driveway of Kenneth’s parent’s house in Montopolis.

Eventually, they moved into their home of 63 years at 1514 Cullen Avenue, Austin, Texas, 78757, when Brian O’Dell and later Scott Lance were born. Barbara was a stay-at-home mother for her three children, during her younger years and also took care of several of her nephews as babies. In 1977, Barbara and her family of five moved to Uvalde, Texas where she worked for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office as a data transcriber and took care of another nephew for a year. After several years in Uvalde, Barbara’s family moved back to Austin to the Cullen house, where Barbara continued to work for the Austin USDA office, until she decided to stay home and care for her father and grandchildren. She spent many years traveling around Texas with her father, Buster, gathering genealogy information for the Wilder family.

Barbara was a member of the Hyde Park Christian Church during her younger years and then Koenig Lane Christian Church after she married Kenneth, until her recent move to Georgetown. Barbara began oil painting, while her children were young, and produced over 10 oil paintings on canvas. For 54 years, she enjoyed the soap opera “As the World Turns” watching from the first show through the last show of the series. She loved to work in the yard and kept both her home and her yard well maintained. She was an avid reader, including the Austin American Statesman newspaper and various health-related magazines. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Kenneth, three children and spouses, Diana and Tim Mortensen, Brian and Nancy Dunnam and Scott and Jan Dunnam. Grandchildren and spouses, Gary Ernest and Hannah Violet Mortensen and Kelly Ann Mortensen and Jeremy McGraw, Bryce Stanten and Cassie Dunnam and Brynna Shayne Dunnam. Three great-grandchildren, Finn Kelson McGraw, Troy Maddox Mortensen, and Lily Faye Dunnam. Two brothers and spouses, James Edward and Elizabeth Ann Wilder and Thomas Winfield and Brookie Janice Wilder; and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara is preceded in death, by her parents, William Joseph and Mildred Nadine Wilder, and two sisters, Patricia Louise Nolen and Nancy Nadine Runyan.

A visitation for Barbara will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 3:00pm at Onion Creek Memorial Park, 11614 Chapel Lane, Austin, Texas 78748.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Dunnam family.