Derwood Oran Durham

Derwood “Bull” Oran Durham, 76, peacefully passed away at home on September 24, 2022.  He was born on October 21, 1945, in El Centro, California, to parents David Oran Durham and Millie Lee Bishop Durham.

He proudly served in the Special Unit Force of the Navy Seals in Vietnam from April 1963 and was honorably discharged in June 1969.  He achieved the Rank of E-3.  Bull married Linda Darlene Lynch on April 2, 1976, in Texarkana and was a loving husband for 46 years.  He loved God, his wife, his family, and his country.  He had four great children, nine nearly perfect grandchildren, and four perfect great-grandchildren.   He was a blessed man. Bull was a loving brother to eight sisters; he loved them all dearly.  He was a member of First Baptist Church in Mabank, Texas.  He loved to cook on the grill, especially BBQ ribs with a special recipe rub he created.  Those ribs were always finger-licking good.  He enjoyed light gardening, especially growing tomatoes.  He always gave the first tomato to his loving wife.  If you ever had an opportunity to meet Bull, you would quickly realize he was quite an unusual man.  He had a way of making people laugh with little effort, but when it came to being a devoted friend, you would not find a more loyal and trustworthy one.  He was a man of his word.  We always said, “God made him special.”  Bull will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bull is survived by his wife of 46 years, Linda Darlene Lynch Durham; children Thomas David Downs and wife Sonja of Kemp, TX, Oran David Durham and wife Angela of Cameron, OK, Stacy Rane Hines and husband Carl of Novice, TX, and Stephen Douglas Durham and wife Jennifer of Bunnlevel, NC; grandchildren Alex Castillo, Zack Castillo, Levi Castillo and wife Carly, Michael Downs and wife Ferrell, Leah Laubach and husband Matthew, Katie Durham, Melina Durham, Jacob Durham, and Tyler Durham; great-grandchildren Chandler, Scarlett, Ava, and Reese; sisters Marlene Peden, Dubbie Gay, Wanda Peek, Barbara Rhodes, and Nadine Creech; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Daisy Lou Durham, Iva Lee Durham, and Dorothy Miller.

Senior Pastor Larry Strandberg II, with First Baptist Church in Mabank, Texas, will officiate for the Durham family.