Joseph (Joe) Wilson Durham

Joseph (Joe) Wilson Durham, of Corsicana and Lewisville (and formerly Ben Hur), passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at age 86. Family and friends will gather at Groesbeck Funeral Home on Saturday, September 17, 2016, for viewing and visitation, from 10:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Those in attendance will leave at 11:00 A.M. to proceed to Criswell Cemetery for Graveside Services beginning at arrival, to be conducted by his brother, Reverend Hugh Durham. Pallbearers will be Patrick Abbott, A.J. Durham, Brian Wintermute, Joe Pharr, Trey Berry, Jerry Durham, and Steve Durham. Following the conclusion of the services at Criswell, all are invited to gather again in Groesbeck for a luncheon together (dutch treat), with the location to be announced at that time. Joe was born May 21, 1930 to Wilson Alonzo Durham and Mattie Willingham Durham at Dallas, and soon the family moved to the farm at Ben Hur. When he was three years old, he was chopping cotton, and he worked on the farm until he was grown. In 1949, Joe moved to Dallas, and was united in marriage with his sweetheart, Dorothy Lynell Lynch, on January 21, 1950 in Dallas. He started work for Sanger’s in the printing department, and remained in the printing industry until he retired in 1997. When Joe and Lynell retired, they moved to Navarro Lake, living in a travel trailer at the lake, and bought a house in Dawson. They worked for the Corp. of Engineers as gatekeepers at the lake. They made many new friends there, and Joe fished on his days off. They retired after 3 years and moved back to northeast Texas, then moved to Corsicana in 2010, where they enjoyed living close to grandchildren. They also enjoyed getting together once a month with Joe’s family and playing 42. Joe was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, Ronnie Joe Durham; his son, Gary Durham (2006); his brothers, Wayne Alvin Durham and Ralph Durham; sisters, Joyce Ann Durham and Dollie Herndon; and his wife, Dorothy Lynell Durham (2014.) He is survived by his daughter, Elaine Pharr; daughter-in-law, Kathy Durham; grandson, Patrick Abbott; granddaughter, Jennifer Sharp; granddaughter, Ashley Woods and husband Travis; grandson, A. J. Durham; 6 great grandchildren; brother, John Hugh Durham and wife Bobbie; brother, James T. Durham and wife Datha; sister, Carol Bender and husband Raymond; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.