Earl (Whitey) Fields Dunham, 91, of Orleans passed away peacefully on March 11, 2018 in Centerville surrounded by family. Whitey was born on Feb 23, 1927 in Worcester, Mass to Earl and Katherine Dunham. He was predeceased by his parents, and his loving wife of 64 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Dunham in 2011.
He is survived by his three children, Kathy Perreault and her husband Fred of Orleans, Judy Crystaloski and her husband Jim of Brewster, and Noel Dunham and his wife Susan of Nashua, NH. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Lillian Meehan, Hilary Young and Michael & David Dunham; his great-grandchildren, Dylan Fox, Riley Meehan and Katie Hoffman; and great-great-grandson Stephyn Hoffman.
Whitey graduated from Orleans High School where he met his wife Betty. They married in 1947. They raised their three children in their Willie Atwood Road home of almost 60 years – a home filled with love that spans generations! He served in the U.S. Army during WWII until medically discharged. He worked for the Commonwealth of Mass. D.P.W., Engineering Dept. for 40+years. After retiring he worked as an attendant at Nauset and Skaket Beaches in Orleans each summer. Whitey had been recognized numerous times for his extensive contributions to youth sports in Orleans and the surrounding area. He was a founding father of Little League Baseball in Orleans. For several decades Whitey refereed high school soccer and basketball, and umpired baseball. The Little League field next to the Town Hall in Orleans was named in his honor in 1981. Over the years he was a member of the Traffic Study Committee in Orleans, Nauset Regional School Committee and the Massachusetts and National Approved Basketball Officials Board. He was also a member of the Universal Masonic Lodge.
Whitey was an avid golfer. He and his wife were members at Ocean Edge in Brewster where they enjoyed playing with friends. Whitey was an enormous fan of the Boston Red Sox. It was his love of golf and the Red Sox that attracted them to Florida each winter for decades.
The family would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the caregiving staff at Harbor Point in Centerville. Their love, care and compassion for our father will always be appreciated.
Calling hours will be Friday, March 16th from 4 to 7pm at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Parkway, Orleans, MA. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Whitey’s name can be made to the Cape Cod Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, 2095 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631 or The One Company Fund, c/o Harbor Point at Centerville, 22 Richardson Road, Centerville, MA 02632.
