Dewey B. Durrett 1929-2003 Obituary
Dewey B. Durrett, 74, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003, in an automobile accident in Tewksbury, Mass.
Mr. Durrett was born in the Talbott community near Belington in 1929, the son of the late Dewey L. and Bernice Simon Durrett.
In this small mountain community, he grew up a farmer’s son while attending the one-room Watercamp School. He was a member of Future Farmers of America in vocational agriculture and won the American Farmer Degree in his senior high school year.
Mr. Durrett earned a bachelor of science degree from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1957.
He retired as a lieutenant colonel after more than 20 years of military service in the National Guard, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Mr. Durrett was also a member of the American Legion in Elkins.
Mr. Durrett loved flying. He was a senior captain for Delta Airlines and retired from the airlines after 28 years of loyal service. An active member of the Cessna 180-185 Club, he often held “fly-ins” on his farm in West Virginia and was active with the Aircraft Owners’ and Pilots’ Association.
An avid traveler, Mr. Durrett and his wife enjoyed visiting many countries and locales around the world from Taiwan and Thailand to Zambia and the North Pole.
He was also dedicated to providing family and friends with the opportunity to experience different places, often transporting them in his own plane to interesting and exotic destinations.
Most recently, Mr. Durrett was involved in the creation of the Appalachian Plateau Museum on his farm in West Virginia, which houses mounted big game trophies and other memorabilia collected during his lifetime of travel.
Mr. Durrett was honored with the naming of Durrett Hall, a 300-seat conference room in the student center at West Virginia University. He was proud to be featured in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Real Estate.
Mr. Durrett is survived by his wife of 45 years, Pauline Stefanik Durrett; three sons, Bryan of North Carolina, Keith of Colorado and Craig of Nashua, N.H; seven grandchildren; his sisters, Margaret Gutshall of Elkins and Ella Yeager of Lewisburg; and one brother, Jim Durrett and wife, Jeanette, of Elkins.
Donations in Mr. Durrett’s name may be made to either the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at 9844C Southern Pines Blvd, Charlotte, N.C. 28273, or the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Place, No. 520, Boston, Mass. 02215.
Funeral services were Sunday at the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St, Salem, N.H., at 7 p.m. Cremation followed. Interment will occur on the Durrett Farm in Barbour County. A memorial service will also be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Talbott United Methodist Church in the Talbott Community. The Rev. Jim Tallman will conduct the service. Presentation of the American flag will be conducted by the American Legion Post 44 of Philippi. The Talbott Funeral Home of Belington is in charge of these arrangements for Dewey B. Durrett.
Dewey B. Durrett 1929-2003
