James Horace Duran

James Horace Duran was born October 6, 1928 in Red Rock, Texas to Obe and Lillie Beatrice Riddle Duran. He passed from this life on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the age of 87. He married Shirley on September 13, 2014 in Red Rock. After attending Red Rock Elementary School, he transferred to Bastrop ISD where he was one of the first three students from the Red Rock School to graduate from Bastrop High School in 1947. Upon graduation, James entered the Army National Guard at Camp Swift, Bastrop, Texas. He worked in the service section of CSCM#2 at Camp Swift until it was moved to North Ft. Hood, Texas in 1950. During his stay at North Ft. Hood, James transferred to the machine shop. Later, CSMS#2 was moved to its present location, at Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas. In the late 1960’s James was elected vice-president of the National Association of Government Employees for the state of Texas. While in office, he was asked to testify before the Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C. in reference to civilian technicians wearing military uniforms on their everyday technician job. It was a very great and laudable undertaking, for James to have been asked to be a part of making this landmark decision. He later became the Texas President of NAGE and dealt with many decisions that helped in the state of Texas and on the national level, too. Over the course of his service, James served the 36th Infantry Division, 36th Airborne Brigade, 72nd Infantry Brigade, 249thAviation Battalion and Co. E (TAM) 149th Aviation Battalion, TxARNG. James continued his faithful service until his retirement in October 1988. 1st Sergeant James Horace Duran was a “Soldier for Life” and a person that would help everyone under his command. After retirement James loved working his ranch and cattle full time. James is preceded in death by: Parents, Obe and Lillie Duran; Wife, Luella Voigt Duran, Wife, Marjorie Ringer Duran; Brothers, Ulysses Duran, and John Leslie Duran; and Son-in-Law, Melvin H. Janney. James is survived by: Wife, Shirley Moore Duran; Daughter, Linda Duran Janney; Granddaughter, Fay (Robert) Camp; Great Grandsons, Tyler Wayne Camp and Lane Edward Camp; and Cassie Duran, his puppy dog. He is also survived by a great many nieces and nephews in the Voigt and Duran families. A Celebration of Life was held on Friday, May 27, 2016 at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home with Full Military Honors. Due to flooding, burial in Bateman Cemetery was delayed until June 4, 2016.