Ronald W Durby

Ronald Wilson Durby (1942-2025) stepped peacefully into the arms of the Father, on December 9, 2025, surrounded by family, after more than a decade of battle with Alzheimer’s.

Ron was raised on the west side of the state in Memphis, where he grew up with his two red-headed sisters. He married his beloved wife, Vicka, in 1963 while attending college and earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama. Together, Ron and Vicka raised two children, Machelle and Mark.

He played guard on the 1964 Alabama Crimson Tide national championship team under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Ron continued his football career as a member of the coaching staff at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with Coach Harold Wilkes. He then moved upstate to continue his educational journey at the University of Tennessee, studying law. Ron returned to Chattanooga as a member of the Legal Aid Society before practicing law with Clarence Shattuck. In 1986, Ron became Clerk and Master in the Hamilton County court system. Ron served the local community as a sessions court judge for 18 years.

Ron loved his church, his community, and anything Alabama football. Alongside his wife, Ron was a faithful member of Red Bank Baptist Church for 51 years, serving the Lord as a deacon, teacher, and committee leader. He was always the smiling face greeting you when you arrived at church. In the community, Ron played many roles in various ministries, foundations, and boards. He was a board member of the Valley Psychiatric Hospital, served on the Red Bank Soddy Daisy Charitable Foundation, a member of the Bar Association, and a member of the Chattanooga Bass Club. He was extremely involved in the Red Bank and Chattanooga communities. Ron loved athletics. He coached everyone from little league to college in almost any sport, from slow pitch softball to football. He was a prominent face on the chain gang at Red Bank High School and was an FCA representative. Ron was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Hall of Fame for football in 2008.

Ron is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vicka; his children, Machelle Hall (Tom) and Mark (Jennifer); his grandchildren, Anna Barron (Kevin of Savannah, GA), Abby, Arabella, Isaac; his great granddaughter, Ell (of Savannah); his sisters, Lynne Jamison (of Collierville) and Carol Miller (Kenneth of Olive Branch, MS); and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary Zoe Durby; his in-laws, Ben and Ethelyn Hold; and brother-in-law Bob Jamison.

Ron is well known for his love of people, his fairness from the bench, making people laugh, and a loud “Roll Tide!” The legacy he has left behind is one of words with action.

A celebration of life service and visitation will be held at Red Bank Baptist Church on Saturday, Dec. 13, beginning at 11 a.m. The service will begin at 1 p.m. with the burial to follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

The family wants to say a special thanks to Hearth Hospice and Solomon’s House for offering the best care we could have hoped for in his last days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Red Bank Baptist Church.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com