Ronald Durham

Burlington Ronald Wesley Durham, 81, passed away into the presence of his Lord on Thursday, April 18, 2013 after a lengthy battle with cancer. A native of Burlington he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Tillett Durham and was the son of Shrewd Rich Durham and Doris Long Durham, deceased. Ron was a 1951 graduate of Burlington High School and a 1960 graduate of Elon College. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran serving at Yokoto AFB Japan during the Korean War and retired as a Case Management Analysis from Nationwide Insurance in 1993. Ron lived his faith at Saint Luke United Methodist Church where he served as Lay Leader and a Sunday School Teacher. He held many offices including Chairman of the Administrative Council, President of the UMM, MYF Leader and Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent. He was a member of the church choir and soloist and a member of the Gideon's International, Alamance West Camp where he served as a Chaplain. Ron was a volunteer with the Alamance Regional Medical Center Auxiliary since its opening. He enjoyed playing golf with the Alamance Senior Golf groups and recorded four hole-in-ones since retirement, loved surf-fishing with his family at Emerald Isle Beach. In addition to his wife Joyce, Ron is survived by his daughter, Tanya Edwards and her husband Rev. Lee Harvey Edwards, his son, Eric Anthony Durham and his favorite daughter-in-law, Sandra Durham; grandchildren, Matthew Edwards, Amy Edwards and husband Joe Edwards, Adam Durham, Jason Durham and his wife Britnay and great grandson, Nolyn Durham; sister, Eva Lynn Smith. The funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, April 20, 2013 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church by Rev. Gerald Collins and Rev. Lee Edwards with the burial to follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church from 9:30-10:45 prior to the service and other times at the home. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff at the Hospice Home for their loving care. Memorials may be made to the Gideon's International at PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or to St. Luke's UMC mission fund at 752 Greenwood Dr., Burlington, NC 27217.