Robert H. Durbin Sr., 67, of Shady Avenue, Washington, died at 10:41 p.m. Friday, March 6, 1998, in Washington Hospital following a four-year illness. He attended schools in Pittsburgh and Washington. He was employed as a bus driver with Washington City Bus Lines Inc. and Suburban Bus Lines for 20 years. Mr. Durbin served as vice president of Amalgamated Transit Local 1543. In 1993, he retired from Ross Mould. He served in the U.S. Army field artillery, airborne and air force divisions in Japan, Okinawa and China. He was awarded the American Theater Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp. While in the service, he won a 140-pound boxing match aboard the USS Republic. After his military service, he played sandlot football and baseball, and also drove stock cars in 1957. He was also a midget football coach. He was a former constable and precinct committeeman in the First Ward, Washington. He also was a past member of the State Constables Association and Washington County Constables Association. For one term, Mr. Durbin served as city chairman of the Democratic Committee. On August 11, 1950, he married Dolores W. Gilmore, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Robert H. Durbin Jr. of Washington; two daughters, Mona Huffman of Peachtree City, Ga., and Connie Zupancic of Washington; a brother, Paul Durbin of Canton, Ohio; a sister, Jeanne Black of Washington; four grandchildren, Beth and Kayla Durbin, Erica Zupancic and Ashleigh Watt; and several nieces and nephews. Deceased are three brothers, Wade C. Durbin Jr., Roy Eugene Durbin and William Ray Durbin; and two sisters, Marian Sheets and Mildred "Babe" Popats. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Monday, March 9, 1998Robert H. Durbin Sr.
World War II veteran retired from Ross Mould
He was born May 27, 1930, in Pittsburgh, a son of Wade C. and Hollie Patterson Durbin.