Louis Samuel Dunham

Louis S. Dunham, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on August 2nd, 2019. He was born April 9th, 1929, eldest child of Samuel and Grete (Butchereit) Dunham. A native and lifetime resident of Salt Lake City, Lou grew up in the Avenues. He was named after Louis S. Cates, CEO of Utah Copper Company, whom his father worked for. He was very able in crafts, woodwork and model building. During the World War II years, he was asked to make wooden machine gun toys for Sprouse Reitz Co. In his basement he produced these toys and also made other toys for the neighborhood children. He was 13 years old at the time and a student at Bryant Junior High. He graduated from West High School and attended the University of Utah before being drafted for the Korean War. From 1950 through 1952, Lou served with the Army Corps of Engineers. His station was the Panama Canal Zone and assignment was associated with the building of air bases in the Arctic, Greenland and Labrador. He experienced 6 months of sea duty.

After military service, Lou went to work for Arden Meadow Gold Dairies, working first in the warehouse, then became a frozen food salesman. During these years he also became a licensed aviator. Associated Food Stores brought Lou on board in 1959 where he developed the Delicatessen Department, managed the Frozen Food Department, and became manager of the Grocer’s Wholesale Division. This latter management position gave Lou the opportunity to sell to chain stores, retail grocers and institutional buyers throughout Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. In 1968, Lou accepted a position of President and General Manager of Certified Warehouse and Transfer Company. During his period of leadership, 1968 to 1984, Certified became the number one distribution center in Utah. The company trucking operations served five intermountain states. He was a past member of the American Warehouseman Association and Affiliated Warehouse Companies. As CEO of Certified, he served as Advisor and Director in many companies related to the firm’s business. A self-made man, he was a masterful salesman whose clients consistently returned because of their trust in his work, reliability and integrity.

Lou married his sweetheart, Marjorie (Humphrey) on November 7th, 1958. He loved the outdoors and spent many days exploring the remote areas of Utah and surrounding states. He was a master wood craftsman and hobbiest with talents in many crafts. He and his family traveled to many wonderful places and enjoyed their time together. They especially loved camping in and exploring the desert areas of Southern Utah. His parents had been rock hounds and had passed that passion on to Lou who then passed it on to his children and grandchildren. He loved his family, grandchildren, and his great friends. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie (Humphrey), daughter Tracy (Ann), sons Greg (Becky) and John, grandchildren Louis, Talayna, Kira and Andrew, brother Theo (Beth), and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Superior Hospice and Mt. Olympus Care Center for their awesome care.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 9, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 255 S. 200 E.  Viewings will be Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m. and Friday 11:45 – 12:45 at the mortuary.