Robert Allen Durkee, 83 years, of Southbury, Ct. formally of Ridgefield and Redding, Ct. Died
October 19th. from complications of Parkinson's disease. Born September 26, 1924, Schenectady, N.Y.
the son of Merritt Durkee & Julia Cornellier Durkee.

Class of 1946, Williams College & Rutger's University, 1949. While a student at Williams College, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a Division Lead Navigator with the 3rd. Air Division, 490th. Bomb Group , during W.W. 11. Captain Durkee flew 30 missions over the European Theater of Operations and was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross as well as three Air Medals.

After his discharge from the Army, he entered The Executive Training Program at R.H. Macy's, becoming a Corporate Children's Ware Buyer. Vice President of sales, Shawmut Mills, Boston, Ma.
and later establishing Westley & Company, a Pension, Profit Sharing and Investment Company, with offices in New York, Los Angles and San Juan, P.R.

Active in community affairs , he served on the Vestery of St. Stephens Church, Ridgefield, Ct. and as the first Chairman of The Parishioner's Fund,(The Hitchcock Fund) from 1979-1989. The Ridgefield Housing Authority, at its inception, establishing The Ballard Park backlands, as the site for Ballard Green, Senior Housing, in Ridgefield.

In Redding, President of The Redding Historical Society and a member of R O L I , ( Redding Open Land Investment).

Proud of his early New England heritage, he was a member of The Ct. Society of Colonial Wars and The Ct. Society of the Cincinnati .

He is survived by his wife of 61 yrs., Lilyan Garside Durkee, a sister, Mrs. Palmer Kennedy, of Lancaster, Pa. and four children.............. Robert L. Durkee, of Irvington, N.Y. Deborah Durkee O'keeffe,
of Ridgefield , Ct. Bruce C. Durkee, of Southbury, Ct. and Susan Durkee Vontobel, of Redding, Ct.

Three Grandchildren, Diana O'Keeffe, of Chicago, Ill. Devin O'Keeffe, of Ridgefield, Ct. and
Charlotte Durkee, of New York, N.Y.

Graveside services with Military Honors , will be held at Union Cemetery, Fort Edward, N.Y. with The
Rev'd Frederick Curtis , former Rector of The Church of the Epiphany, Southbury, officiating.

Rememberances in his memory, may be made to The Lutheran Home of Southbury, 990 Main Street No. Southbury, Ct. 06488. The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St. North, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made through www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

Memorials: Rememberances in his memory, may be made to The Lutheran Home of Southbury, 990 Main Street No. Southbury, Ct. 06488.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Services: Graveside services with Military Honors , will be held at Union Cemetery, Fort Edward, N.Y. with The Rev'd Frederick Curtis , former Rector of The Church of the Epiphany, Southbury, officiating.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.