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William Durrant Obituary
Funeral services with military honors for William R. (Bill) Durrant, 87, Lawrence, will be10 am Monday, June 23, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Durrant died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, on Tuesday.
He was born July 6, 1926, in Chicago, IL, the son of William Charles and Irene Florence Atwood Durrant. He graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago, in 1944. He later attended the University of Kansas for some business classes.
Mr. Durrant served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked for the University of Kansas in their Police and Parking Department for 23 years and retired in Nov. 1988. After retirement he worked at Dillions on Mass. He was a member of the Alford-Clarke VFW Post #852, and was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lawrence Lodge # 2.
Bill married Marjorie Thompson in 1953. They later divorced. He married Donna Cook Channel Durrant in 1978. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two daughters, Denise Gilges, Baldwin City, KS, Christa and husband Thomas Schram, Bonner Springs, KS; two step daughters, Yvonne and husband Dominic Palermo, Lawrence, KS, and Charmaine and husband Raymond Messick, Garnett, KS; nine grandchildren, Jason Gilges (Heather), Wellsville, KS, Amanda Gilges, Kansas City, MO, Dustin Gilges (Jessica), Bradford, IL, Lauren Brazzle (Luke), Wamego, KS, Troy Gilges, Columbus, IN, Jacqueline Thyer (Mike), Arcadia, KS, Justin Messick, Garnett, KS, Brian Johnson, NC, Mark Johnson, Alexandria, VA; one sister Alberta and the late Dr. Tom Parry, Washington, KS;
Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Saturday at the funeral home. A visitation will be from 1-2 pm Sunday.
The family suggests memorials made to Fraternal Order of Police, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Durrant
3 Entries
Sue Spencer
June 24, 2014
Bill will always be remembered for his wonderful smile and that "twinkle in his eye." I will miss him very much as we had many talks and laughs along the way. Donna prayers for you and your family to give you peace.
Janice and David Norlin
June 22, 2014
Uncle Bill was an important influence in my life. I remember looking for 4-leaf clovers with him. He was a good man.
Janice Parry Norlin
June 22, 2014
So sorry for all your loss, i knew him for many many years at Dillons, was such a nice man.
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Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044
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