Philip R. Dunham

Philip R. Dunham, 78, of Camillus, passed away peacefully on Thursday, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Presque Isle, ME and moved to Arkport, NY as a child where his family started a potato and dairy farm business.  Phil was a graduate of Arkport High School where he excelled in track, basketball and soccer, but especially baseball.  He enlisted in the US Army after high school and spent several years in the Army Reserves. He then continued his education and received his associate’s degree from Auburn Community College.  He began his career in the farm industry with Agway where he worked for 14 years before venturing on his own to form an animal feed ingredients’ business, Old Mill Troy, Inc., which he successfully ran until retirement in 1999.  Phil raised his family in Syracuse and treasured his time coaching his sons in sports, playing for the Spinning Wheel softball team and taking his family on camping trips to the Adirondacks. In retirement, Phil returned to his roots, tirelessly tending to the Jones Farm in Arkport, but also enjoyed traveling, staying at a variety of bed & breakfasts, listening to his favorite artists, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, watching Yankee games, and reading about military history.  Most importantly, he was present in his grandchildren's lives who knew him as “Grandpa Donuts.”  Phil will be remembered for being a reserved, kind and gentle man, devoted to family, and for his mischievous sense of humor.

Philip was predeceased by his parents, Murray and Emma Dunham; brother, Terry; and sister, Judy Spencer.

Surviving are his sons, Philip (Zoriana) of Camillus and Michael (Amie) of Syracuse; grandchildren, Sonya, Lyla, Ava, Alex, Matthew, Michael and Jacob; first wife and recent companion, Dorothy Dunham of Auburn; second wife, Anne Dunham of Syracuse; brothers, Murray (Linda) and Michael (Beth); sisters, Gail (Arnold) Sherlock, Gloria Buss, and Sherry (Dominic) Daniels; several half-siblings and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

All those who knew and loved Phil are welcome to call Thursday, June 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus, and on Monday, July 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 E. Main St., Hornell. 

Memorial services will immediately follow at the respective funeral homes.

Philip will be laid to rest in Heritage Hill Cemetery, Arkport.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Camillus Youth Basketball Assn., 312 Lynn Rd., Camillus, NY 13031, or to the Camillus Softball & Baseball Assn., P.O. Box 134, Camillus, NY 13031.  

Please share condolences at www.BuranichFH.com