In the early 1980s Gerry hosted the South Bay Amateur Radio Club Field Day at his home up in the hills behind Fremont near highway 680. Most of the club was present and Gerry was an excellent host. We used the callsign K6OI and called CQ through the night. I can't recall all that were there, but they would remember Gerry for his hospitality and genuineness. We teased Gerry in a ham radio parlance sort of way and called him "Gerry-load" with a reference to what hams use to tune up their radios - a dummy load. He always took a ribbing well and would shoot back a few of his own. It was back then that Gerry had obtained his amateur radio license and callsign of WD6FFF. Gerry would frequent the two meter repeater in Fremont stating his callsign as "Dubble-U Dee Six Triple F." I am pleased to say Gerry was one of those kind souls that I never forgot. I found that he had passed today while looking him up on www.qrz.com and was wanting to catch up with him. I'm too late, but I pray that Gerry knew the Lord Jesus Christ and that he is with Him now. 73 Old Buddy.
Gerald K. Durham, WD6FFF SK Gerald Keith Durham June 24, 1942 ~ August 9, 2019 (age 77) Gerald Keith Durham, 77, passed away on August 9, 2019 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Modesto, California. He was the significate other of Jeanette Vecellio. They shared several years of a heartfelt partnership together. Born in Modesto, California he was the son of Luther Durham and Ruby Brizendine Durham. He graduated from Oakdale High School in 1960. Gerald commonly known as Jerry was given a couple of affectionate names by his friends. In some circles he was known as “Bulldog” and in others as “Baby Hoffa.” In all circles he was known as a man of great integrity, a hard worker and a man whose word you could take to the bank. Jerry never forgot his friends or where he came from. He worked as a truck driver in his early years and became a member of the Teamsters Union. With the ultimate respect of his fellow Union members, Jerry rose from the shop steward to the top position of Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 287 in San Jose, California. He was a Ham Radio Operator and maintained an Advanced Certificate. Jerry could tell numerous stories about his days and nights on the radio until a stroke in 2015 left him unable to speak. Among his other hobbies Jerry enjoyed watching baseball, football and WWE. He was frequently razzed about the WWE. Jerry is survived by his partner, Jeanette, his sister Elgeva Burton, his children Denise Woodward, her spouse Fred Woodward and their sons Shane and Christian J. Woodward. Jerry’s son, David Durham, has two sons Brandon and Bryce Durham. Jeanette’s children, Gino Vecellio and Gina Marie Scheid her spouse, John Scheid, and their two daughters, Amber and Samantha Scheid loved him as a step father/grandfather and he returned their love. He was predeceased in death by his parents Luther and Ruby, his siblings, Juanita Boyson, Maxine Callahan, James Durham, Robert Durham, and more recently his grandson Erik Woodward. Jerry was fortunate to have a very loving family and his nieces and nephews will miss him dearly. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 10:30am at P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home located at 290 N. Union Road, Manteca, California. An online guestbook is available at www.plfryandson.com. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital located at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 https://www.plfryandson.com/tributes/Gerald-Durham
