“I’m a blessed man, and I know it!” – that’s what Durward C. Bynum would say when recounting the many blessings God had bestowed on him during his 91 years of living.
On the morning of September 8, 2011, at his home in Morgan Hill, Durward peacefully went home to be with His Lord, just 3 months shy of his 92nd birthday. He was born in his family’s farm house outside of Kopperl, Texas, December 4, 1919, the tenth of 11 children born to William D. Bynum and Nannie Love Coats – Bynum.
After his mother’s death at the age of 10, he also gained four step-brothers and a half-sister when his father remarried a widow, Ora Freeman.
As a boy and young man he worked hard on the family farm and a local cattle ranch, and enjoyed participating in school sports and reading in his free time.
After graduating from high school he served as a Sergeant in charge of a fire fighting and rescue unit for the Army Air Force in the South Pacific during World War II and received the Soldier’s medal for valor after pulling a man from a fully loaded B24 bomber that had crashed and exploded on take off.
After the war he met and married the love of his life, Lucille Brant and enjoyed life with her until her death in 2004 just one month before their 60th wedding anniversary.
After the war Durward went to work for the County of Los Angeles where he retired as a Tree Inspector / District Supervisor for Parks and Recreation. He and Lucille raised three sons: Curtis, Timothy, and John and embraced their wives (Barbara, Virginia, and Jennifer) as their own daughters. They were blessed with seven grandchildren (Tim, Matt and Amanda / David & Kelly / Dustin and Charley) and 3 great grandchildren (Kyra, August and Kawika.)
In retirement, Durward greatly enjoyed traveling throughout the US and Europe with Lucille, playing cards, singing, and working in his garden. He was an avid reader and in retirement a prolific writer of 11 novels and several short stories and poems.
Durward enjoyed teaching Sunday school, working with youth, and sharing his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. After Lucille’s death he moved to Morgan Hill, CA which became his new home. He was so grateful for the many special friends he made throughout the Morgan Hill community, especially those at West Hills Community Church and the Centennial Recreation Senior Center where he enjoyed the fellowship and fun they had playing cards, singing and dancing together each week.
Durward will always be remembered for his generosity, kindness, and genuine love for people. He was faithful, hard-working and lived life fully. He was a blessed man, and he knew it – and we are blessed because we knew and loved him!
Memorial Service 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 1, 2011,
West Hills Community Church, 16695 De Witt Ave., Morgan Hill, CA.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in memory of Durward to
Centennial Recreation Senior Center Endowment Fund
c/o Morgan Hill Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1974, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
