Anthony (Tony) Duran

Anthony (Tony) Philip Duran of Bruceville, Texas passed away on December 19, 2011 surrounded by family in his home after a two year battle with Prostate Cancer.

Tony Duran was born on October 14, 1945 in Los Angeles, CA to Leonard Lincoln Duran and Henrietta Adeline (Penny) Duran. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1963 in East Los Angeles. Tony then joined the U.S. Army in 1965 and served until 1967 when he was honorably discharged. He was an accomplished musician having contributed slide guitar and vocals for "Waka/Jawaka", "The Grand Wazoo" and "Apostraphe". He toured with Zappa's Grand Wazoo Orchestra, September 1972, and with the Petit Wazoo Orchestra (or the Mothers, as they were called at that time) from October until December 1972. He can also be heard on "Joe's Domage" and "Imaginary Diseases". Tony was the lead guitarist of the band Ruben and the Jets, whose first album was produced by Frank Zappa in 1973. Tony had a passion for music and was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and brother. He recently retired from the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Temple, Texas after 34 years of faithful service.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Lincoln Duran.

Tony is survived by his wife, Joyce (Joy) Duran; children Anthony Duran Jr., Erika Kelli Pennington, Paul O'Leary, Jana O'Leary and Patricia Jones; mother Henrietta Adeline Duran and siblings; Leonard Lincoln Duran Jr., John Joseph Duran, Theodore Richard Duran, Gregory Dennis Duran, Charles William Duran, Melody Gutierrez, Sherri Valdez, Stephen Michael Duran, and Rudy Christopher Duran, 14 grandchildren and his beloved Shih Tzu's.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Providence Hospice or American Cancer Society.

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ,Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Grace Gardens Funeral Home
8220 Woodway Drive Waco, TX 76712

Funeral Service

10:00 a.m. ,Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel
8220 Woodway Drive Waco, TX 76712