Memorials › James Lathrup "Jim" Durnford
James Lathrup "Jim" Durnford
6 May 1900 – 24 Apr 1990
| Birth | 6 May 1900 |
| Death | 24 Apr 1990 |
| Cemetery | Santa Rosa Memorial Park Santa Rosa , Sonoma County , California , USA |
| Added by | Michael Von der Porten on 23 Mar 2025 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183869864 |
Bio
Jim was the 2nd son born to Clara Virginia Lovell Durnford and Ernest McKenzie Durnford. He attended school in a one-room school house until Clara took him to Covelo where he entered high school and graduated. When he was in high school, he often times had to assist his grandfather, Henry Lovell who was the undertaker to bury the Indians in Covelo. But, when he was 17, he started working for the NWPRR as a baggage boy. He taught himself the morse code and soon was able to work on "the extra board" at stations up and down the RR line. He was the youngest man to be given an Agency at age of 21 in Fortuna, California. His future wife, Helen T. Harper came to teach at the Fortuna High School. They were married in Oregon. During the Great Depression, Jim had employment with the RR which provided a small house close to the station. He worked in several stations up and down the line, some of which were, Heildsburg, Geyserville, Willits, Eureka, briefly in Oakland and retiring as supervisor for the northern region and working in Santa Rosa. In 1943, Jim had officer's training in Oregon and was immediately sent to Ireland where he was among troops training for the Normandy Invasion. While in Ireland, he made friends with the Richardson family because he was given their names by a person named Mr. Elkins who knew the Richardsons. He was in the 2nd division that came onto Normandy Beach, operation "Omaha Beach". He was promoted to the rank of Major before he was honorably discharged. While in Paris, France, one of his assignments was to help re-establish the RR system. He made friends with people in France named Beauchaines. He had his wife send shoes for their little girl, Zezette. Jim was a kind hearted person who cared for people and also loved animals. During the war, he wrote home saying how he missed his wife and daughter, Patsy as he called her. He always asked how his dog was. He was active in the Masonic organization, the Scottish Rite, and many local organizations. He was secretary of the Santa Rosa Rotary for many years.
Photos
Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Ernest Addison Durnford 1889–1918
- Leona Elizabeth "Lee" Durnford Phipps 1891–1982
- Baby Durnford 1893–1893
- Margaret Clarice "Maggie" Durnford Flora 1894–1922
- Lucille Maud Durnford Blair 1896–1996
- Doris Ester Durnford 1903–1914
- Lovell Solon Durnford 1907–1983
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