Thomas Eugene Durham

1933 - 2021

Thomas Eugene Durham, MD, 88, of Elkhart, passed into Heaven on Monday morning, Sept. 27, 2021, with family by his side.

Thomas was born in Toluca, Illinois, on Jan. 23, 1933, the youngest of nine children, to the late Francis and Theresa (Farley) Durham. Thomas is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 64 years, Donna (Donatt) Durham, who he married on June 8, 1957, in Oglesby, Illinois. They built a wonderful life together with their six surviving children: Dr. Timothy (Janet) Durham, Denise (Kent) Etchison, Daniel (Karen) Durham, Todd (Jane) Durham, Ted Durham, and David (Lenitra) Durham; 17 grandchildren: Patrick (Jenn) Durham, Kara (Sawyer) Hankins and Kevin Durham; Amanda Etchison; Allison, Katherine, and Samantha Durham; TJ, Suzanne, Scott and Cazarina Durham; Parker, Ryan Lynn, Mitchell, and Evan Durham (mother Shelley Kruggel); Xavier and Xander Durham; and two great-grandchildren: Hazel and Gray Hankins.

Dr. Durham attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and earned his MD from Marquette University Medical School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1958. He completed his Fellowship in Orthopedics at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois. He moved to Elkhart where he practiced medicine for 40 years helping thousands of patients recover from their injuries. Dr. Durham was a founding partner of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center (OSMC) of Northern Indiana. He was a member of American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Indiana Orthopedic Society, Indiana Bone and Joint Club, American Medical Association, Elkhart County Medical Society, The Loyal Order of Moose and Knights of Columbus.

Thomas was a devoted parishioner of St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church and a great, dedicated family man. He enjoyed the outdoors – skiing with the family, tennis, golf, travel, and gardening and became an expert tree surgeon after he retired. He was an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. He lived life fully and gratefully with his loving wife, children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. His circle of life continues with the baptism of Gray, his youngest great-grandson, on Oct. 9.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A parish rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, with a viewing at 10 a.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N Main St., Elkhart. The Rev. Jason Freiburger will officiate. Cremation will follow, with burial at a later in St. Vincent Cemetery Elkhart.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church or St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Condolences may be made online to Dr. Durham's family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.