Trending
Harold Lee Durrett, 95, of Mount Crawford, passed away Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
He was born Feb. 18, 1928, in Belington, West Virginia, the son of the late Ralph and Celia Durrett.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth ("Betty"); sons, Marvin and Dennis; grandson, Jeremy Wright; and sister, Irene McKinney.
He attended Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, for one year on scholarship before joining the Army in 1947. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, logging 51 jumps, and served in the Korean War. He exited the Army with the rank of Captain in 1954. He then went on to earn a B.A. in Psychology in 1956 and an M.A. in Industrial Psychology in 1960 from West Virginia University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.
While still in college, he accepted employment as a plant personnel manager at Hannah Coal Company in Moundsville, West Virginia, for five years. Harold was hired in 1961 to help open a new location of Walker Manufacturing Company in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He served as the Personnel Manager, Plant Superintendent and Plant Manager over the next 25 years. He then worked as Vice President at Rocco Enterprises for five years. Coinciding with his years of employment in Harrisonburg, Harold also taught as an Adjunct Professor at Bridgewater College (two years) and Madison College (24 years, now James Madison University). In addition, he worked as a management consultant for 30 years, specializing in labor relations and human resource management.
Harold was very active in civic and community affairs. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce (awarded 1979 "Business Man of the Year"), Chairman of the Rockingham United Way Fund, Chairman of the Board for Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Director of Harrisonburg Kiwanis Club, Board of Directors of Virginia Manufacturers Association and Chairman of VMA Labor Relations Committee, 50-year member of Elks Club, Director of Valley Mental Health Center, member of Isaak Walton League and Board member of Massanutten Mental Health Clinic.
Harold was an avid fisherman, a serious deer and turkey hunter, and an active outdoorsman. After retirement, he spent many hours gardening with a bounty of fruit and vegetables each year. He was a successfully competitive billiards player into his 90s. He was also known to regularly be victorious at checkers and card games with his children and grandchildren.
He and his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Herman, were together for over 70 years until her death in 2021.
He is survived by daughters, Beverly Phillips (husband, Olin) of Stacy, Minnesota, Kay Wright of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Linda Durrett of Belington, West Virginia; daughter-in-law, Diane Durrett of Mount Crawford, Virginia; and Jeff Durrett (wife, Betty) of Dayton, Virginia.
In addition, Harold is survived by 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg with Deacon Fred LaSpina officiating.
The family received friends from 9 until 10 a.m. prior to the service. Interment was private.
A memorial service will be conducted from the Talbott Funeral Home, 56 N. Brandenburg Street in Belington, West Virginia, on Saturday April 13, 2024, at 1 p.m. for his friends and relatives in his home town to come and share in a Celebration of Life that could not attend his services that were previously held at his place of residence in Virginia when he passed.
Condolences can be made to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.
The Talbott Funeral Home in Belington is in charge of the arrangements for Harold Lee Durrett.