JOSEPH W. DUNHAM SR.

LAKE KATRINE-Joseph W. Dunham Sr., “Santa”, 74, of Lake Katrine died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 at home. Born Jan. 14, 1947 in Schenevus, New York, he was the son of the late Newcomb J. and Ida (Tompkins) Dunham. A driller and blaster all his life, Joe retired from Union Local 17, Newburgh. He was the “original” Santa at the Hudson Valley Mall and continued his love for spreading the magic of Christmas to children throughout Ulster County ever since. Joe was a former member of Ulster Hose Co. No. 5 and the Immaculate Conception R.C. Church and Holy Name Society where he volunteered for many years calling BINGO and at Penny Socials. Surviving are his wife, Gail (Colvin) Dunham; his children, Melissa Conway and her husband Michael, Beth Corso and her husband Jerome; his son, Joseph W. Dunham Jr. and his wife Rachel; Gail’s children, Bonnie Smith, Michael Smith and his wife Kim, “little” Michael Philips; his siblings, Louise Furness, Raymond Dunham and his wife Penny, Tom Dunham and his wife Darlene, and his sister-in-law, Mae Dunham. Joe “Poppy” is also survived by his grandchildren, Joshua Olsen, Justin Olsen, Evan Olsen, and Joseph Corso; and Gail’s grandchildren, Nicholas, Beeker, Harley, Dakota, Jessica, Brandon and Kaylee Smith. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Joe was predeceased by his rst wife, Kathleen (Boughton) Dunham, on January 27, 2004. Joe’s sister, Doris Plankenhorn; his brother, Newcomb Dunham; and Gail’s son, Scott “Bubba” Smith, also predeceased him. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, Inc., 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston. www.jvleahyfh.com. The Dunham Family will receive friends on Monday from 4 to 7 PM. Face masks are required and social distancing may limit the capacity of the funeral home. A funeral service will take place Tuesday 11 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Montrepose Cemetery. Flowers are welcome. Expressions of sympathy in the form of contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis Tenn. 38105.