Lt. Colonel (Ret) Thomas F. Durham, lll passed away peaceably on Jan 7, 2022 at the age of 85. He was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi to Colonel Thomas F. Durham, Jr and Estelle Western. He was raised as an “army brat” and lived in many parts of the world including Japan after WWll.
He graduated from Brookhaven, Mississippi High School and Mississippi State University as a distinguished military graduate and commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the regular army. Later he graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
He met Frances Comfort at Mississippi State and they were married soon after graduation and fortunately spent 62 happy years together. His army career took him to many parts of the country and would include Hawaii and Germany. While in Germany, he and his family learned to ski. Many happy days were spent in the Colorado mountains skiing with his sons and grandsons. He also loved tennis and spent many fun years playing at the Colorado Springs Racquet Club. Tom spent many hours at the gym where he had a pack of friends whose friendship gave him much pleasure. He was proud of finishing the Pikes Peak Ascent race 3 times.
Tom retired from the Army in 1982 after serving his country for 26 years. He served at various military posts during his career, including the 101st Airborne at Ft. Campbell, KY and the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. He also served 2 years in Vietnam – one with a Vietnam ranger battalion.
During his military career he was awarded numerous medals including Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Joint Service Commendation and Air Medal. Badges include Senior Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and Ranger Tab.
After his military retirement, Tom obtained a real estate license and worked for Arnie Schaffer Real Estate for a number of years before establishing Durham, Lynch and Moore Realty. In his later years, he mainly worked as a property manager and always helped his tenants any way he could. Tom is survived by his wife, Frances Durham, his sister Deanna Burress, his sons Thomas F. Durham, IV (Audrey Durham), Mark Steven Durham, and Bruce Huntington Durham (Hunt), grandsons, Tyler Durham, Aidan Durham, Zachary Durham, Thomas F. Durham V (Vaughan), granddaughters Alyssa Durham and Erin Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George E. Durham of The Woodlands, TX.
A memorial service will be held on Wed, Jan 19th at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80910. Burial with full military honors will take place at Pikes Peak National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Tom was known by his friends and acquaintances as a strong, kind, and generous person. He placed his family above all material things.
Memorials in Tom’s name may be made to The American Cancer Association or Wounded Warriors Project.
Frank Horton
13 Oct 2022Knew and served with him early in our careers. Sorry for his loss. He’s was a joyful person at all times and never met a stranger.
Thomas L. Hallman
16 Oct 2023As a brand new 2nd Lt., I was assigned to HQ of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, at (then) Ft. Bragg, NC. It was my great pleasure to serve as his Assistant S-1 until he transferred back to Vietnam. He was a great boss, an inspiring man, a loving husband, and an outstanding officer. I deeply regret that my search for him was only productive after his death, as I would have liked to share those words with him. He and Mrs. Durham were kind to me well beyond the demands of the Army, and I continue to be influenced by my time in association with them.