Daniel Durham left us on October 5, 2021 surrounded by his loving children.
Dan was born 92 years ago to Lawrence and Bernice Durham (Hill) in Toledo, Ohio. The youngest boy of seven children, he told his siblings when he first met Alice Gleespen, that they would love her so much, because he did. Dan and Alice were married in 1951. They had a lovely life with good friends, travel and the joy of family. They were married for 65 years, beginning their life as he served in the Army, and retiring together after he served as a Toledo firefighter for 26 years.
Our dad’s presence was like the songs he sang to us – infusing our background with a little humor, love, tenderness and entertainment. Nearly every day, he’d break out in a song – amusing us as children and connecting us as adults. At special events, we’d sing his favorites, on a visit or the phone; we’d listen to a few songs or sing along together. After mom left us, he sang so many love songs — we knew he was always thinking of her.
An environmentalist before it was popular; he taught us to use resources wisely and was steadfastly opposed to waste. He found joy in everything from his gardening and cooking to taking rides along the riverbank or shooting bank shots and clearing a pool table.
We learned from his wise words and observant and helpful nature. We admired his resilience in living independently for all these many years, and in these last few months; we witnessed the sweet gratitude he gave to his rehab team. They all loved his charm and beautiful blue eyes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lawrence Jr. and Donald and sisters Dorothy Woods, Cora Morey, Eva Mae Clancy and his wife Alice Durham.
He is survived by his children – Cathy (Bruce) Wilson, Karen (John) Heinrichs, Barbara (Tony) Hirsch, and Daniel (Joan) Durham, his 9 grand-children and 4 great-grandchildren, sister Bernice Deering and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass will be on October 16 at St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns Church, 4201 Heatherdowns Blvd. at 11:00 a.m. with an hour of visitation prior at 10:00 a.m. We respectfully request that masks be worn. The Mass will also be live streamed via St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns YouTube channel. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Messages of condolence may be made at CoyleFuneralHome.com .
Memorial donations may be given in lieu of flowers to COVID research. Give.vanderbilthealth.org/covid19. Note Dan Durham in comments. Alternatively, to St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Daniel Durham please visit our Sympathy Store.
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