Donald Ira “Durb” Durbin, 72, fought the battle courageously and with fervor and on Sunday afternoon, April 10, 2016 he won, surrounded by his family.
He was born Nov. 16, 1943 in Mansfield to parents Garnet L. and Mary E. (Clabaugh) Durbin. He graduated from Mansfield Senior High with the class of 1962.
While a junior in high school, a beautiful young lady named Priscilla Thoma caught his eye and the high school sweethearts married soon after graduation on April 25, 1964.
A tinkerer by nature, Don came by his work honestly. He had a God-given gift to work with his hands and as such he worked many different places including Joyce Buick and Graham Chevrolet before taking a job at RCCI as an auto-body teacher. He worked there until retiring in 2008.
He was a 32nd-degree Mason with the Mansfield Lodge No. 35 F.&A.M., a member of the Order of Owls Nest #1152 and Amvets Post #26.
A fisherman at heart, Don loved being out on the water and especially enjoyed fishing for perch. He would make sure to once a year make a trip to Lake Chautauqua in New York to go fishing. While fishing was a passion, Don especially enjoyed his family.
He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren whenever he could. All the birds and the squirrels of the boulevard knew where they needed to go if they wanted to find a nice meal. Have a neatly manicured lawn; Don always made sure there was food out for his animal friends, no matter the weather.
He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years Priscilla Durbin; children Brian (Brianna) Durbin and Dawn Durbin Lyter and Mark Hamilton; grandchildren Elijah, Ezra, Stella, Kyle (Casie), Kaytee Robyn, Cody and Steven; great-grandson Jaydon; sister Marilyn (Chuck) Napier; nieces Kim (Damon) Wilson and Lisha (Zach) Lewis; great-nieces and nephews Tyler Wilson, Cameron Wilson and Madison Spreng; brother-in-law Kim (Susan) Thoma, of Arizona; dear family friend Wendy Myers Bond as well as numerous extended family.
The family would also like to send out a special thank you to the Ohio Health Mansfield Infusion Clinic as well as all the doctors and staff at Riverside Methodist Hospital for the outstanding care they provided.
In addition to his parents Garnet and Mary Durbin, Don was preceded in death by his in-laws Pete and Ruth Thoma as well as numerous aunts and uncles.
His family will receive friends 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 in the Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home (formerly Finefrock’s), 350 Marion Ave where calling hours will continue from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2016 and a Masonic memorial service performed by the Mansfield Lodge No. 35 F.&A.M. will begin the funeral service honoring Don’s life immediately at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to the Riverside Cancer Scholarship Fund (Please make checks payable to Ohio Health Foundation and on the memo line write Riverside Cancer Scholarship Fund) may be made at the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Don’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them –or to watch his tribute video at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
