In the early hours of Monday May 7, 2018, Theresa Lynne Durbin of Tulsa, OK peacefully passed away in her sleep after many years of declining health due to Diabetic Neuropathy/Retinopathy and spinal disintegration. Theresa was born September 11, 1958 in Muskogee, OK to parents William Albert and Bessie Nell Durbin of Dewar/Tulsa, OK. She was born without one hip socket but with a slight limp she pursued an active career beginning in songwriting and recording production having received a professional recording contract at age 13.
Graduating from East Central High School, while still living in Tulsa, T pursued a career in professional radio in the late 1970’s early 1980’s, first working as talk show producer to Tulsan Kitty Roberts radio talk show on KXXO and later to KMOD as well-know trend-setting music DJ personality working under the name of Theresa de Veto, nick-named Veto by her co-workers because as talk show producer she had the production ‘veto’ power. In 1985, T moved to NYC where she became partners and executive programmer in a national music video distribution/artist management company Vusic Express Limited working with unsigned and independent label artists, the first of its kind at the time connecting these artists music videos with corporate sponsorship. Also in the later 1980’s early 1990’s, T became successful as a NYC club DJ/promoter with emphasis on alternative new music format as well as club management.
Relocating back to Tulsa in 1991 for health related issues, working with Tulsan entrepreneur/promoter Tim Barrazza, T entered into club DJ work at the Planet Theatre continuing her NYC success as well as music festival production for Riverfest ’92. In March of 1993, T created her own corporation with life-partner Deja Washburn leasing airtime Midnight to 6am on the then commercial classical music station KCMA as THE EOI NETWORK, creating a successful local and nationally recognized commercial alternative new music format radio station presenting under the name of Mother Theresa, given to her by the younger generation of new music Tulsa listeners because she was older than they were, and had much to teach them of the history of new music and the current trends. T’s declining health in the later 1990’s led to a hip replacement and necessity to work from home creating a still-current successful commercial news and entertainment internet website/forum dedicated to alternative research from all perspectives of interesting topics.
She loved all animals having had many households full of loving dog and cat rescues and her current buddies are missing her, as are we all. Theresa’s spirit lives on in her legacy of having inspired many people to pursue lives based on integrity, honesty, diversity, honor, imagination, humans’ rights and perseverance. Theresa is preceded in death by her parents, William & Bessie Nell Durbin, a sister, Betty Durbin, & paternal grandparents, Bert (Buck) Durbin & Minnie Thelma Durbin.
Theresa is survived by her life-partner of 32 years Deja Washburn, of the home in Tulsa; Aunts & uncles, Bert & Nancy Durbin of Dewar; Norma Crummett of Dewar; Alice Marie Durbin of Dewar; Also by a host of friends and other relatives. Viewing for Theresa will be from 3-8pm Wednesday at Integrity Funeral Service. Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m.,Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Westlawn Cemetery with Rev.
Matthew Martin officiating. Services are under direction of Integrity Funeral Service.
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