Wilmer Durham

Published 12:01 am Friday, October 30, 2015

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March 16, 1925 – Oct. 28, 2015

FERRIDAY — Services for Wilmer “Buddy” Durham, 90, of Ridgecrest, who died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, at the residence of his daughter, Patricia Poole in Monterey, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Comer Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Tate officiating.

Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Comer Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Durham was born March 16, 1925, in Urania, La., the son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary McDonald Durham.

Mr. Durham was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He was a member of the 17th Airborne Division. He participated in the campaigns in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe and the Battle of the Bulge. He received the American Theatre of Operations Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was a lifelong member of the Ferriday Church of Christ. He loved to go camping, travel, fish and hunt. He was the local beekeeper.

Mr. Durham loved his family and they were dear to his heart. He was a good father, brother and friend to many. He will be surely missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen Aldridge Durham; four brothers, J.D. Durham, Raymond Durham, Farris Durham and Samson Durham; and three sisters, Marie Durham Bruno, Ruth Durham Garner and Lois Durham Rogers.

Survivors include four children, James R. Durham and wife, Lynn, of Peyton, Colo., Ferris L. Durham and wife, Wanda, of Ridgecrest, Brenda Durham Taylor and husband, Ford, of Sugar Land, Texas and Patricia Durham Poole and husband, Tim, of Monterey; 10 grandchildren, Michael , Cherie, Kris, Tyson, Felissa, Amanda, Sam, Jesse, Rebecca and Alanna; 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Clarence Durham of Jena and D.L. Durham of Urania; and a number of nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Mike Durham, Tyson Durham, Nathan Nause, Glenn Michaeu, Robert Durham and Michael Durham.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Martin and Josh Silberman.

Online condolences may be sent to comerfh.com.