Charles Jay Deur M.D.

Dr. Charles Jay Deur, a physician in Arlington, Texas, died on December 27, 2025, at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth, Texas, after a years-long struggle with Parkinson’s disease dementia. He was 76 years old.

Visitation: January 9, 2026, from 6-8 pm at Lucas Funeral Home

1321Precinct Line Road, Hurst, Texas 76053

Funeral service: January 10, 2026, at 12:30 pm at Peace Lutheran Church

941 West Bedford-Euless Road, Hurst, Texas 76053

Memorials: If you wish to make a donation in his honor, please consider the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth and Peace Lutheran Church in Hurst.

Charles was born on July 26, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Dr. Julius Jay Deur and Mary Elizabeth Whittaker Deur. The family moved to Lafayette, Ind., where Charles attended Lafayette Christian School. He was the valedictorian of Jefferson High School Class of 1967. He earned a B.S. degree in Biology/Chemistry at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1971. At Indiana University School of Medicine he was research assistant to Dr. George Weber, one of the founding fathers of cancer research at I.U., from 1971-1973. He met his first wife Debra Sue Dixon in med school, and they married in 1973. In 1975 Charles was named a Merck Scholar, elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree.

Charles and Debra moved to Dallas, Texas, for their post-graduate training. He completed his internship (1976) and residency (1978) at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, followed by a fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology (1980) at the University of Texas Southwestern and Baylor University Medical Center. Dr. Deur set up his private practice in 1980 as the first oncologist in Arlington, Texas. He joined Texas Oncology in 1994 and retired in 2019.

Dr. Deur was a fellow in the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Christian Medical and Dental Society, Luke Society, and Tarrant County Medical Society. He served as president of the American Cancer Society (Arlington branch), and was named, in 2003, Physician of the Year for the Arlington Medical Society. He was president of the Friends of the UTA Library and served on the Advisory Boards for the Center of Cartographic Studies at UTA and the Arlington Pregnancy Center. Charles was also on the Board of Directors at Peace Lutheran Church in Hurst, Texas.

Charles and Debra were founding members of Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Dallas, Texas, (1978) and Trinity Oaks Christian Reformed Church of Arlington, Texas, (1981). They had two children during their 30-year marriage, which ended in 2003 when she died.

One of Charles’s greatest joys was teaching Sunday School for 45 years at Trinity Oaks CRC, Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington, Texas, and Peace Lutheran Church.

Charles married Melissa Russell Deur in 2005. Together they were the grandparents to six grandchildren whom he loved wholeheartedly. They were fortunate to front-load their 20-year marriage with many adventures. Charles loved history and collecting ancient coins and stamps. He was a member of the Fort Worth Civil War Roundtable, Texas State Historical Association, American Numismatic Society, American Philatelic Society, and Mid-Cities Stamp Club.

Dr. Deur loved his patients and they loved him. He will be remembered for his kindness and bedside manner. He lived his calling to serve others.

Charles Deur is survived by his wife Melissa of Arlington, Texas; son George Marshall Deur (Megumi) of Wilmington, Calif.; daughter Juliana Marie Deur Thompson (Justin) of San Diego, Calif.; stepson Trey Braden Russell (Aimee) of Mansfield, Texas; grandchildren Sayuri and Chihiro Deur, Liam and Oliver Thompson, and Cash and Stella Russell; sister Suzanne Deur Mullendore (Brad) of Crawfordsville, Ind.; and brother Dr. John Mark Deur of Columbus, Ind. Dr. Deur was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Debra.