Frank Joseph Durda IV

Frank Joseph Durda, IV, passed away on March 12, 2018 after complications from a brain biopsy. Frank was a devoted son, brother, father and husband. He was born July 27, 1958 in Fort Polk, Louisiana to Patricia Ann (Elliott) and Frank J. Durda, III. But he got to Texas as soon as he could, at age 6 months.

Frank was a brilliant technical mind and easily the most intelligent person you’d ever actually met. He is the original Sheldon Cooper. He could write code in well over 2 dozen languages and devoured technical manuals as easily as most scroll through a social media feed (which he hated.) Frank enjoyed long careers at Tandy, AST, Internet America and West Telecom Services f/k/a Hypercube where he did everything from software engineering to network architecting to writing documentation. Frank was the ultimate “fixer” in work and life. If your server went down at 2:00 am, not only would he take your call at the middle of the night and help you but he’d have it up and running better than before by the start of business. He was stubborn and snarky with a dry sense of humor, yet humble, kind, caring and frugal. When Frank knew something on a topic (which was most topics), he knew everything about it and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with you as well. As he was so well versed in a plethora of subjects, he could speak easily to anyone no matter their interests.

His talents were broad and diverse. Frank was an excellent photographer and gardener. He enjoyed music, the theatre, movies and fixing things in the garage or around the house. He loved dogs, nature, being outside, birds, skiing, travelling, and loved Dr. Pepper, Mexican food and Whataburger. Frank was a graduate of O.D Wyatt High School. He earned his B. S. in computer science & engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. He also instructed computer courses at Tarrant County Junior College. A longtime volunteer at Casa Manana, Frank was also an elder at his church, and a licensed FCC radio operator.

Frank married the love of his life, Colleen Chunta on October 15, 2016. Frank wanted to be, and waited his whole life, to be a father and husband. Their love story was four years of fun, travel, adventure, activity and a deep love and respect for each other. Colleen has lost her soulmate and her true north.

Frank is predeceased by his mother, Patricia Ann Durda and his grandparents.

He is survived by his wife Colleen, his beloved infant daughter, Kathryn Anne “Kate”, father, Colonel (Retired) Frank J. Durda, III, his brother Michael Durda, sister Karen Doland and husband Frank, niece Paige Doland, nephews Brian & Ben Doland & Barrett Chunta, mother and father-in-law, Anne and Don Chunta, brother-in-law, Collin Chunta & his wife Leslie, sister-in-law, Maureen Chunta and her fiance’, Ivan Kornienko. He is also survived by a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins who supported him during his 4-month illness.

A special thanks to the wonderful Neuro Sciences Intensive Care Unit at Harris Methodist who were so devoted to him during that time.

Donations may be made in Frank’s honor to: the Goodfellow Fund (practical gifts for schoolchildren) www.goodfellowfund.org or Box 1870, Ft. Worth TX 76101; American Brain Tumor Association www.abta.org; or Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7120 W. Cleburne Rd., Ft. Worth, TX 76107.