Funeral mass for Major (Retired) George Durham, 71, Lawton, will be 12:00 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 2014, in Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Seeton, pastor officiating. George died Friday, September 5, 2014, in Lawton. Burial with full military honors will be in the Fort Sill National Cemetery under the direction of the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. A prayer service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel and the family will greet friends until 8:00 p.m. George was born December 4, 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to George Allen Durham, Sr. and Charlotte (Levrino) Durham. He grew up in a military family and graduated high school in Lompoc, California. He later earned his bachelors degree from Milton College in Wisconsin. He married Mary Poloni on April 7, 1962 in Lompoc, California. He served in the U.S. Army, including with the 1st Cav division in Vietnam. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Three Bronze Service Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device. Following his retirement from the Army in August 1989, he worked for Civil Service at Fort Sill where he became director of the FIRES Battle Lab until his subsequent retirement in April of 2012. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and also served on the board for the St. Mary's Catholic School. He was active with the Boy Scouts and had served as a district chairman with the Black Beaver Council as well as a course director for the Boy Scout Wood Badge. He was a member of the Lawton Boat Club, the Italian American Club, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Officer's Association of America, the Order of St. Barbara and the Ancient Order of St. Barbara, served on the boards for the Center for Creative Living and Marie Detty and was a Ducks Unlimited sponsor. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and shooting. He is survived by his wife, of the home; three children, George Durham and his wife Linda, Oklahoma City, Kimberly O'Neill, Woodinville, Washington, and John Durham, Gilbert, Arizona; his sister, Jeannette Lackett, Eureka, California. His parents preceded him in death Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Creative Living, 3501 Dr. Elsie Hamm Drive, Lawton OK 73505 or St. Mary's Catholic School, 611 SW A Avenue, Lawton OK 73501.