Rev. Dwight Harral Dunnam

Funeral services for Rev. Harral Dunnam are set for Saturday, June 19, at 1:30pm at First United Methodist Church of Bryan. After the tribute to Rev. Dunnam below, his formal obituary follows with additional details.

Remembering Reverend D. Harral Dunnam

“Hello there, I’m Harral” is how Rev. Dwight Harral Dunnam would introduce himself to a newcomer to church or in any setting he was in. He was the most humble man, a gentleman and gentle man whose chosen career profession was minister to congregations across Texas. Beyond that prestigious distinction, he was so much more.

To his wife, Rita, he was her husband, hero. He had a plan for their life together and they navigated that path together beautifully for just short of 62 years.

To his daughters, Heather, Valerie, and Juliana, and to all his grandchildren to come, he was Pop, a loving term that put him on the same level as any father of any daughter, except he really was nothing like any other father. He didn’t supervise his children by reminding them of what they might be doing wrong all the time. He led by example more than words, and when he used words, they were always spoken in a kind and loving way. He was so sweet; the girls never wanted to ever disappoint him or cause him grief.

Harral loved and encouraged their girls with equal power and impact. He and Rita always supported all their children’s extracurricular activities with enthusiasm. Likely his demeanor and attitudes were long modeled by his family and generations who preceded him.

Both Harral and his brother, Spurgeon Jr., became Methodist ministers following the path their father, Spurgeon Dunnam, Sr., had taken. In total, 17 Methodist ministers have been found across the Dunnam lineage. What a legacy of faithful service to God and his teachings that is of itself.

Harral led by example, anywhere he went. It could be a United Methodist general conference, a mentorship of other ministers, or a local church committee. Just because he was a gentle man didn’t mean he couldn’t take swift action or make his preferences known clearly. He just had a kind way of imparting information that allowed you to absorb what he was saying, and you welcomed his thoughts.

One particular committee meeting comes to mind where the group had a different mindset coming into the discussion. Harral said up front that he wanted to know what the group thought. After all had shared their opinions, he addressed the group and said calmly, “I believe I’m of an entirely different opinion but here is why.” As he presented his experiences with “the other way” in the past, he also testified as to why he believed his way was better for the long term. By the time he was finished, the committee had decided to follow his recommendation by agreement rather than simply acceding to his position as senior pastor.

Leadership skills were his strong suit. Anytime he asked a church member to volunteer for a committee, they were only too happy to step up because he believed in them to be able to accomplish the mission. In the office, his staff absolutely adored him. He had a keen sense of humor and willingly shared it with his team. He treated each person with respect and dignity, and he knew everyone in the congregation by name unfailingly.

Ministering came naturally to him. As senior pastor, and the opportunity to lead together for two terms together, Harral counted on Rev. Bob Richers to lead the congregation’s senior constituency, which meant home and hospital visitations, Bible studies, and senior travel trips where grand, long-lasting friendships were developed. Nothing gave Harral greater pleasure than watching the friendships flourish as their congregation experienced excellent growth, together. Working together, as brothers in ministry and in life, they cared for our church with their hearts, time, and talents like none other I’ve seen.

Music was important to Harral, in general as well as in worship. It had been stressed to him as a child how magnificent a knowledge of music of all forms of music was.  He was given violin lessons at an early age, and despite his initial lack of enthusiasm for the instrument, he realized how important it was to his mother, a piano teacher, that he learn it. Ultimately, he would grow to love operettas and stage productions from childhood forward, as well as many other genres.

He delighted in conferring with Music Minister, Rev. David Henry about favorite hymns on special liturgy Sunday mornings. Whenever the choir had a special music presentation, Harral delighted in turning the Sunday morning program over to focus on it. They also worked together at Klein United Methodist Church in Spring, so FUMC was a special reunion for both ministers.

Harral loved music and he loved telling the story on himself about his wife Rita, who could telegraph her disapproval of something he might do (at the pulpit) by just a simple look on her face (from the pews). He began one sermon by saying that he always loved looking out into the congregation to see his lovely wife’s face smiling back at him, except on that particular Sunday, she wasn’t smiling. She had a “concerned” look on her face, which caused him to think about why that would be. Quickly he discovered he was standing too close to the microphone during the hymn and moved back a bit. She smiled again. By the way, he truly had a beautiful singing voice, with a gentle Texas accent to boot, and his girls loved hearing him sing.

His telling that small story on himself, of course, brought the house down, as he said he had corrected the problem by just moving back a little before the song was completed. In fact, he tended to open his sermons each Sunday with a joke, and it relaxed the congregation to welcome his message of the day. He was marvelous at greeting his congregation by name, as well as welcoming members of previous churches he had served when they occasionally visited FUMC Bryan, always asking about their families by name and sending his best wishes. His memory was phenomenal that way.

His favorite church holiday was Easter, and his favorite Easter song was “Joy in the Morning,” as he could then officially pronounce his Easter as “joyful.” When he retired from FUMC Bryan, the Chancel Choir sang a song composed by Rev. Henry, specifically marking the occasion of Harral’s retirement from FUMC Bryan and ministry in general.

Years after ministry were spent in the beautiful setting of Carter Lake in South College Station. With the back of their home facing a placid lake, it was a perfect site for multiple family gatherings over the years, as well as a place of quiet solitude and reflection for he and Rita to enjoy together. Some of their neighbors were also Methodist ministers, so they never lacked good friends and fellowship close by.

It’s been said that the measure of a man’s life can be made in many ways, depending upon one’s priorities in their lifetime. Without question, D. Harral Dunnam lived a life that made his parents proud, and he maintained a career worthy of respect, admiration, and approval as a Christian minister, as would be underscored by the many congregations he served. His wife, children, grandchildren, sister, and other relatives loved, respected, and adored him unceasingly.

It can surely be said of his ministry at First United Methodist Church, Bryan, that we were indeed fortunate to have the privilege of Rev. Harral Dunnam’s leadership when he was there. That leaves only the final words left to be offered in his behalf: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Amen and amen.

With greatest respect, Dawn Lee Wakefield

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Rev. Dwight Harral Dunnam

Rev. Dwight Harral Dunnam, 87, of College Station, passed away June 9, 2021, in College Station, with his loving family by his side. He was born in Rockwall, Texas, to Spurgeon Murray Dunnam, a United Methodist Minister, and his wife, Alice Eleanor (Westbrook) Dunnam, a church organist/pianist and piano teacher.

Harral graduated from Shamrock High School in 1951. His college education began at Lon Morris College, then Texas Wesleyan University. Next, he sailed on the Queen Mary to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where he studied under some of the great Scottish theologians.

Returning home, Harral enrolled at SMU, where he would meet fellow student Rita Pratt; they married on August 6, 1959. Rev. Dunnam’s formal education concluded in 1959, when he graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The Dunnam legacy includes 17 United Methodist ministers on the family tree, three of whom were Harral, his father, Spurgeon Murray Dunnam, and his brother, Spurgeon M. Dunnam, Jr.

Rev. Dunnam served churches in Jasper, Hemphill, Houston, Mt. Pleasant (where he was the founding pastor of St. Andrews UMC), Bryan (FUMC), Longview (Greggton UMC), Spring (Klein United Methodist), Lake Jackson (FUMC), then returned to serve a second time at FUMC Bryan before retiring.

Harral and Rita are parents to three daughters, Heather Ragsdale (Toby), Valerie Dunnam, and Juliana Dunnam; seven grandchildren, Erika Ragsdale (Mitch Keogh), Ryan Ragsdale, Timothy Langley, Allison Parker (Justin), Carson Hon, Will Hon, and Caroline Hon.

Rev. Dunnam was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Spurgeon M. Dunnam, Jr., and sister, Eleanor Amos. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are set for Saturday, June 19, at 1:30pm at First United Methodist Church of Bryan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity (habitatbcs.org). Condolences may be expressed online at CallawayJones.com.