George Durning was born on March 10, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of George Harold Durning and Helen (Bertulis) Durning. He completed this life on August 23, 2023.

George was raised in the various boroughs of New York City and graduated from Jamaica High School in 1952. He enjoyed playing hockey as a youngster. While in high school he joined the Civil Air Patrol and earned 168 credit hours in Military Aviation. Also while in high school he met the love of his life, Joan Paulson. After completing his Civil Air Patrol service he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Ohio to study radar. He was sent to Korea where he was stationed at a mountaintop radar station. When he returned to the United States he was stationed back in Ohio where he received several letters of recommendation to be included in his military record. Upon returning from Korea, George proposed to and shortly thereafter married Joan. They began their family with a set of identical twins, Deborah Joan and Donna Jean. Soon thereafter George was discharged from the Air Force and they settled back on Long Island. George worked for Republic Aviation for a while. He had been discharged with a ready reserve designation to work for the Civil Aeronautics Administration (soon to become the Federal Aviation Administration) as a radar controller. He worked in the New York Center and then transferred to Long Island's McArthur Airport Center. Meanwhile, back at the house, Joan and George's two sons came along, Douglas James and Daniel Joseph just about a year apart. They had 4 children in 3 years and completed their family. They partnered in raising 4 children and meanwhile George worked swing shifts in the FAA. He also got his pilot's license, helicopter license, flight instructor's license, bought an Aeronca Champ, put an extension on their house, refurbished the Champ, bought a shell of a Triumph (car) and rebuilt it. George was also a Scout Master for his sons' Boy Scout Troop and organized the Scout-O-Rama on Long Island. With their children mostly grown George and Joan moved to Oklahoma where he became an instructor at the Mike Moroney Aeronautical Center. He specialized in upgrading the computer system and teaching classes of future air traffic controllers. When George retired from the FAA he continued his career by contracting computer services with the FAA and giving private pilot flight instruction. During his career he accumulated over 1500 hours of flight and FAA training.

George is preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan Durning, his devoted son Douglas James Durning; his parents, Helen and George Harold During; his sisters Helen Durning and Joan Marini; several close cousins and aunts and uncles.

George is survived by his children, Deborah Bonura and husband Joseph; Donna Johnston and husband Norman; Daniel Durning and wife Doris; his grandchildren Daniel Durning, Anthony Durning, Grant Johnston, Jason Durning, Christopher Durning, Kiersten Durning, Matthew Bonura and Brandon Wilson. George was survived by so many special people in his life it would be impossible to list them all, but know that if you were in George's life you were very important to him.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 30 at the Vondel Smith Mortuary North, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church, 7336 W. Britton Road. Interment with military honors will follow in Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.

For those who desire, memorials may be made to Patriots Honor (www.patriotshonor.org).