Paul Joseph Durbin, 85, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Monday October 23, 2023 at Danbury Senior Living in Mount Vernon with family at his side.
Paul was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, an entrepreneur, and a pillar of the community. He was known by many for his work ethic, sense of humor, and kind spirit.
Paul was born in Vermillion, Ohio in 1938 to Pius Eugene and Mary Coletta (Gardner) Durbin. His parents relocated their family to Danville where he graduated from Danville High School in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Marie Colopy, in August 1958 shortly after her graduation.
At the age of 20, Paul purchased Durbin’s Sohio service station from his father and steadily grew the business over the next four decades, expanding into various automotive repair services, towing and roadside assistance, and a carwash. Shortly after rebranding to Durbin’s BP in the early 1990s, he pivoted into convenience retail and self-storage rentals. Also active in his community, Paul was a member of St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville, and later St. Vincent Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, as well as a member of the Danville Volunteer Fire Department and Knights of Columbus.
A loving husband of 65 years and devoted father to his four children and eight grandchildren, he is survived by his wife Kathleen, their children James (Angie) Durbin, Joseph (Deborah) Durbin, Marilou (Al) Fritz, John (Kathleen) Durbin, eight grandchildren, as well as siblings Kay Durbin of Lewis Center, OH, Charles Durbin of Colorado Springs, CO, and Donna Brust of Castle Rock, CO.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Walter, Douglas, and Robert Durbin, Margaret Masse, Mary Jo Oberfield, and Helen Miller.
His family would like to extend a special thanks to the many caregivers for their extraordinary care for Paul during his final months, including the staff of Danbury Senior Living Center, as well as those at Gentiva Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27, at St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville. Visitation will be available in the church vestibule from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to mass. A brief interment ceremony at St. Luke Cemetery will be observed immediately after mass, followed by a reception at St. Luke Community Center. Open to all.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, PO Box 526, Danville, OH 43014. A memorial page is available at fischerfuneralhome.com.
