Don Durham

Donald Walter Durham, 83, formerly of Windermere West in Asheboro died Thursday, March 13, 2008 at Clapps Convalescent Nursing Home in Asheboro. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at First United Methodist Church in Asheboro, where he was a member since 1947. The family will greet friends immediately following the service in the church parlor. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery off West Battleground Avenue in Greensboro. Rev. Michael Holder and Rev. George Roberson will be officiating. Mr. Durham was born April 1, 1924 to Walter and Ruth Browning Durham of Greensboro. After graduating from Greensboro (now Grimsley) High School, he joined the Air Force and served four years during World War II. After military service, he married the former Evelyn Glass of Greensboro in the Alumni House of Womans College (now UNC-G) from which his bride had just graduated. After the war, he moved to Asheboro where he and his brother, the late Waldo Browning Durham of Asheboro, became co-owners in 1947 of Presnell-Durham Printing Company located in the basement of the Randolph County Courthouse. In 1953, Durham Printing Company moved to its present location at 1305 South Cox Street in Asheboro. The two brothers were also former co-owners of Lambert Printing which later became Lee Printing Company. Durham Printing Company was honored earlier this decade as the longest active member of PICA (Printing Industry of the Carolinas) at ceremonies in Charlotte. The company also published The Randolph Guide weekly newspaper from the 1950s until its move to South Fayetteville Street in the mid-1970s. Mr. Durham retired as president of Durham Printing Company in 1991, when his son Rick succeeded him. The company just celebrated its 61st year in business. Dedicated to public service throughout his life, Don Durham was the epitome of a Southern gentleman and treated everyone he met with the utmost respect. Blessed with a warm wit and an optimistic spirit, he was a great listener and effective team builder, which led to successful leadership positions as chairman of the official board of his church, chairman of the Asheboro City School Board, chairman of the board of First American Savings and Loan, president of the Asheboro Rotary Club, president of the Asheboro Jaycees, president of Asheboro Country Club, president of the Asheboro High School PTA, as well as leadership roles in the American Legion, Elks Club, and Randolph District Boy Scouts. He was a former Director of BB&Ts Asheboro board, was awarded Lifetime Membership and JCI Senatorship by the Jaycees, was recipient of the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts, and was honored with a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Asheboro Rotary Club. Preceded in death by his wife Lyn of 52 years in 1998, he is survived by son Carey Durham and wife Billie of Troy; son Richard Durham and wife Paulette of Asheboro; sister-in-law Mary Jo Durham of Asheboro; sister-in-law Lois Morgan of Dallas, TX; five grandchildren: Tracie Durham, Patrick Durham, Martin Durham, Joshua Stancil, and Jason Stancil; six great-grandchildren; a niece and four nephews. The family wishes to express its appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and especially to the staff of Clapps Nursing Home for their special care and concern these past eighteen months. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 224 N. Fayetteville St., Asheboro, NC 27203 or to an organization of the donors choice. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.