Robert Louis Durrah, Sr., 92, passed away on Monday, April 9, 2012 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, after a short illness and a long-term battle with Alzheimer's.

He was born June 30, 1919 in Winston-Salem to the late Elizabeth Teamer Durrah and the late Willie Durrah.

He grew up in Winston-Salem, where he graduated from Atkins High School in 1938. He served in the US Army from 1941 to 1945, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After returning from the war, he received BS and MS degrees in Mathematics from North Carolina Central University.

He began his teaching career at Winston-Salem State University and eventually taught in the
Winston Salem/Forsyth County School System, most notably at A.H. Anderson and Simon G. Atkins High Schools.

After retiring, he became Chief of Security at Salem College and Academy, and finally worked as a security guard for US Airways before retiring around 2001 due to illness.

He was a longtime Scout Master for Troop 888, and later Troop 869, at Mt Zion Baptist Church.
In 1965, he was chosen Scoutmaster of the Year by the Old Hickory Council. He belonged to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Free and Accepted Masons, the Laymen's League of Mt Zion, and he delivered Meals on Wheels for many years in the city.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings, Cleo D. Mitchem, Paul Durrah, Edith Jackson, James W. Durrah, and his twin sister, Lois D. Simpson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Daisy Mae Henry Durrah; son, Robert L. Durrah, Jr. of Atlanta, GA; granddaughter, Erin Elizabeth Durrah of San Francisco, CA; a sister, Dora Justice of Detroit, MI; two foster children, Christopher Lenard Harper & Mary Lou Harper; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church,950 File St., W-S, NC with Rev. Dr. Serenus T. Churn officiating. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service at 11:30am.

The family wishes to thank the KB Reynolds Hospice and Palliative Care Center for the gracious, loving, and caring services rendered during his illness.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Boy Scout Troop #869 of Mt Zion Baptist Church in commemoration of his commitment to the development of youngsters which spanned his entire life.