Otho Durbin

Otho Durbin, 94, of Owensboro, went to be with the Lord on March 5, 2013 at Hermitage Care Facility after a short illness. Otho was born Nov 15, 1918 in Sunfish, Edmunson County, Kentucky during a snow storm. The family moved to Daviess County 18 months later in a horse drawn wagon. It took three days to make the trip with stops at farms along the way. His parents worked on a farm at Brown’s Valley owned by the Weddington family. Then the family moved to Jim Pope’s place in Windy Hollow. Otho lived with Mary Hines for a year when family moved to Stanley. Then he (12) moved to Stanley with his parents on the Hoffendofer place. Then the family moved to a farm at the intersection of Fitts Road and Burns road for Jim Ellis. Otho worked there till he was 22 when he joined the service. He enlisted at Fort Knox in 1st Armored Division. Company D, Fourth tank battalion. Dec 1941. He served in England, North Africa and Italy. He received his honorable discharge June 25, 1945. On Aug 28, 1945 he married Mary Rose Hagan. Otho went to Owensboro Business College and recieved an accounting degree. He worked for Marvin Black Income Tax service for six years, then moved to Owensboro Sand and Gravel for four years. He ran a service station till 1960, then went to work for Whitaker and Stavis Construction Company. He worked as a carpenter, finish carpenter and then foreman, for sixteen years and then moved to Hagan Construction as a foreman till 1980 and then retired. In Nov 1980 he opened a small engine shop which he closed in 2005 but continued to work on mowers for friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Vessey and Ruth Durbin and his 10 siblings. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Rose and his six kids, Jim Durbin (Joyce) of Marion, Ia., Bob Durbin (Patty) of Lewisport, Bill Durbin (Billie) of Hawesville, Leon Durbin (Shirley) of Hartford, Charlotte Hall (Randy) of Owensboro and Mary Jo Stinnett (Terry) of Utica. Otho had 28 grandkids including spouses ( Anita Westphal (Jeff), James O Durbin II (Aimee), Allison Keene, Kathlean Dean (David), Beth Payne (David), Jeff Durbin (Cassandra), Mike Durbin (Heather), Tommy Durbin (Debbie), Lee Durbin (Kim), Kristy Yeckering (Eric), Tonya Curtis (Wes), Kevin Hall (Amber), Beth Wilson (Chris), Mandy Stinnett, and TJ Stinnett (Megan (soon)), 36 great grandkids, and 1great great grandkid. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, at St. Martin Catholic Church with Father John Ighacho officiating and burial to follow in St. Anthony Catholic Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Haley-McGinnis & Owensboro Funeral Home and from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Prayers will be said 7:00 p.m. Friday. Share your photos and memories of Otho Durbin at www.haleymcginnis.com.