Casper Arthur Dury

Casper Arthur Dury, Jr., 84, of Abilene, formally of Oregon, died Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Oregon, where his ashes will be entombed at the Willamette National Cemetery. Casper was born in Babylon, New York on October 1, 1926, to the late Casper Arthur Dury and Ellen (Rider) Dury. He was raised in Copiague, New York. In 1946, Casper married Jean Phelps. She preceded him in death on October 5, 2002. He served in the Pacific as a Navy Signalman during World War II. Casper later became a Mechanical Engineer and worked for Sundstrand Aviation. He designed parts for aircraft and the Apollo Space Craft. Casper married Jane Kirby on May 30, 2005 in Abilene, Texas. He was a member of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal. He was preceded in death by his first wife and one brother, Arthur Dury. Casper is survived by his wife, Jane Dury, of Abilene; three sons, Bruce Dury and wife Patricia of Pecos, Texas, Tom Dury and wife Judy of Conifer, Colorado, and Claude Dury and wife Christina of Des Moines, Iowa; one step-daughter, Alisa Brown of Milan, Italy; one step-son, Terry Kirby and wife Lynn of Bastrop; one brother Steve Dury and one sister Louise Peck; as well as 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the donor's favorite charity.