John Wesley Durham
John Wesley Durham died
October 6, 2006. John was born August 13, 1922, in Kingman, to Bessie Irene
McPeek and Lindon Madison Durham. He graduated from Newton High School and
joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. He served as a radio operator in B-25s in
North Africa, Sicily, Italy and China, Burma and India Theatres with the 434th
Bomb Group, known as the "Earthquakers." Durham remained active with
the squadron attending as many annual reunions as possible and keeping up with
the roster and Necrology for the last several years.
After being honorably
discharged from four and one half years of service, he married Frances
"Anne" Fugate on Aug. 7, 1945. They lived in Bartlesville Okla., for
several years where John was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. The family
was transferred to Borger, Texas, in 1957, where he completed his 33-year
career with Phillips. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Borger where he once served as an elder.
In 2001, the couple moved to
San Angelo, Texas, to be nearer to their two daughters. Durham was a member of
the First Presbyterian Church of San
Angelo. Durham lost his wife
of 59 years in September 2004. He since was able to enjoy the remaining two
years of his life because of the company of a very special friend, LaVerne
McDonald.
He also was preceded in death
by his parents, one brother, Lindon Jr., and one sister,
Barbara Jane Crane.
Durham is survived by his two
daughters Judy Perkins of San Angelo and Jenny Burgman and husband Carl of
Tulsa, Okla.; one sister Roberta Nunemaker and husband John of San Antonio,
Texas, three grandsons, Corbin Perkins of Dallas, Reece Perkins and wife Kayla,
and Logan Perkins; and one great-grandson Noah Gage Perkins, all of San Angelo,
a brother-in-law and friend John King of Newton; along with several nieces and
nephews.
A funeral service officiated
by Dr. Ron Sutto of the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo will be at 10
a.m. Monday Oct. 9 at Johnson's Funeral Home in San Angelo.
Memorials may be made to the
West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Hospice of San Angelo or the charity of your
choice.
Interment will be at Walnut
Hill Cemetery in Kingman. A graveside service with full military honors will be
at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.
