Raymond K. Dunham

1940 - 2025

Raymond K. Dunham

Hopkinton, NH - Raymond K. Dunham 11/23/1940 – 07/18/2025

Ray was born in Bangor, ME in 1940 to Dorothy Foster and Knowlton Dunham.

He was an electronic engineer, inventor, scuba diver, and Harley Davidson enthusiast. As a teenager he held several jobs involving manual labor, contributing to his strong work ethic.

Upon graduation from Bangor High School in 1959, he enrolled at NH Technical Institute in Portsmouth, NH, earning a degree in electronic engineering. He then began his career working for GTE Sylvania in Hillsborough, NH, producing semiconductors. Here he met many lifelong friends, the most important of all being the love of his life and closet friend, Julie Seymour.

During his career, he was employed by many companies in Maine, Massachusetts, Florida, Vermont, and Kentucky. He also founded RD Electronic Design in 1989 and operated for 11 years.

Ray and Julie married in 1963 and raised two children, Shannon and Brandon. They loved traveling and enjoyed many vacations to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the unique Out Islands of the Bahamas where they met and made friends with many interesting people. During a trip to Grand Cayman, Ray was introduced to scuba and after qualifying for his open water certification, conducted his final dive exam in Anquilla. He went on to dive in spectacular sites in the Turks and Caicos, Treasure Cay, Abaco and Harbour Island. His final dive was on the Atlantis Submarine in Grand Cayman in 2018. One outstanding dive was a very close encounter with a shark. Ray and Julie also traveled to Europe.

Both of his children treasured the time spent with their dad. Shannon especially enjoyed discussions of problem solving regarding mechanical and technical subjects and will miss his advice and insight. They also shared the same sense of humor with jokes that no one else could understand. Brandon shared his passion for riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. They enjoyed camping at the Harley Rendezvous in Mariaville Lake, NY, as well as annual trips to Laconia, NH for motorcycle events.

Ray was legendary for his dry sense of humor and tales abound of intricate pranks conspired on unsuspecting co-workers. He will be remembered for his stories of drawing friends into a woven tale and with a cheeky smile and twinkling in his blue eyes, he would reveal the punchline, leaving everyone in disbelief that they fell for it yet again.

Ray was predeceased by his mother, sisters Vivian, Madalene, and Shirley. He leaves his wife Julie, his daughter Shannon Knight (Julian Knight) of London, UK, his son Brandon Dunham (Richard Johnson) of Loudon, NH, and his beloved Aunt Marlene of Daytona Beach, Florida.

Per Ray's request, there will be no calling hours. A private burial will be held later.

Donations may be made in his memory to Hospice House in Concord, NH at:

https://www.granitevna.org/services-programs/hospice-house/