It was great to work with Bob in Jacob’s Engineering. He was such a great human being and a great sportsman, played soccer with us. Unbelievably jovial person. I miss him so much. I visited him even after I left the company.
May his soul rest in peace.

Christy and family, thinking of all of you today and sending love. Patti and Calvin Saboorian

Bob and I played football in junior high and high school.  He was so good and sincere a teammate and friend. I can only imagine how wonderful he was as a father, husband, and grandpa. Sorry for your loss at such an early age. 
Mike Dougherty

I used to work for Bob in Jacobs Engineering. He was a great human being, always cheerful, had lot of friends, a sportsman and good leader. I will miss him.

I worked with Bob at Cree. He had a wonderful soul. He was a great engineer and loved to teach people what he knew. A few times we would go out to eat lunch. The conversation was always good. Me and my wife Deb had the opportunity to go to a Canes game as Bobs guests. At the time I was still a contractor at Cree. After 3 years Bob hired me as an employee. We are tremendously thankful that the lord let our paths cross in this life! We had many similar stories in life. We lived in Texas. We loved soccer, wrestling, hockey, etc.
Bob will be greatly missed here but a ton of fun will be had in Heaven.
Best regards to his Family,
Rob & Debbie Weidner

I met Bob in the fall of 1972 in Alexander dormitory on the NC State campus.  He invited me into his circle of friends. We became good friends and enjoyed our college experience to the fullest.  We were involved in more than our fair share of college hijinks.  Anyone remember streaking?  After a couple of years in the dorm, we moved off campus and shared an apartment.  Bob began dating a girl from Kinston, Christy Dekle.  It became serious.  Graduation came and Bob stayed in Raleigh, married Christy and the rest is history.  I moved away and kept in touch for 40+ years with a sporadic phone call but always exchanging Christmas cards.  Every few years there would be another little Durland on their card.  Somewhere I think still have the card, “From all the Durlands, A to Z”.  Last year, we moved back to Raleigh.  Bob immediately invited me into his golfing circle.  What a great year we had, playing golf every week.  I have new friends in Raleigh now.  Thank you Bob.  I’m gonna miss you.   See you on the other side.   

The first time I met Mr. Durland at a Durland family Thanksgiving (at camp Durland of course) almost 5 years ago he instantly made me feel welcome. I’m not sure if it was his contagious smile or the fact that we shared a passion for LED lighting! But he always went out of his way to make me feel like a part of the family and that always meant so much to me. His presence is one that is, and will truly be missed.  He will live on in our hearts forever. ❤️

Grandbob teaching the art of pool relaxing

I remember being at our pre-wedding party, hearing chants of “Bobby D! Bobby D!” and looking to see Bob in the centre of a circle of our friends chugging a pint. It didn’t matter that he didn’t know half of them, he was - without arrogance or effort - just a natural legend and life of the party. 

I’ll so miss the twinkle in his eye, the giggle in his laugh, the cunning in his wit, and even his many “fun facts”. Thankfully for me he has passed these qualities on to Zeke and the girls, so it seems I will have to accept being the least charming one in the family; but I’m reminded of him, so that’s ok by me. 

Thank you for welcoming this strange foreigner into your family Bob, for being the best father-in law and “America Grandpa”, and for pretending to like marmite. Cheers to you and to eating too many hot chillis,  washed down with Little Beers xx 

So sorry for your loss. Alex. Praying for you and your family during this difficult time. 

We affectionately called each other “Uncle Bob” and shared many happy times together with our families.  Fun around the pool, being the “adults” at bachelor party weekends, hot pepper eating contests, playing numerous crazy games with everyone and enjoying his famous “little beers” signature drinks on New Years Eve.  
His ever present smile and laugh were highly contagious and he was a joy to be around. He will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Rest In peace dear friend. 

To our family he was Uncle Bob and we spent many summers visiting the Camp Durland when our kids were all growing up. We have continues to enjoy our times with Christy and Bob and have many wonderful memories, including our time together in London, when we attended the wedding of Zeke and Charlie.  The picture was taken at the Imperial War Museum in London. 

We send all our love to everyone in the Durland family! Jim, Donna, Alexis, Max, and  Ben Dekle❤️

It’s tough to put into words everything a father means to you.  He was perfect at saying, “I’m proud of you”, just enough that when he said it you knew he really meant it. It always seemed like he knew exactly what to do in every situation. He could eyeball the house and say I think we should build a deck/stairs/driveway/shed/pool there and within months it was there.  He’d be one to appreciate that I couldn’t make it through writing something as serious as this long enough without making up the fake “Tex” submission to try to cheer myself up. He’s also be the first person I’d have sent it to, to eagerly wait to see if he thought it was funny. I remember sitting next to him during what must have been the 10th time he’d seen Home Alone just to watch him laugh at it.  It’s hard to go through these tough times without him but 1000x harder to go through happy times without him being there to share them.  He was a good friend, a great role model and the best father.  One random story I remember is a few years ago walking with him through our yard well past midnight, and as we walked around I said, “You really have it great here” and he smiled and said “Haven’t beat it yet.”  I love you and miss you Dad.

I’ll never forget, I met Bob in a boxcar train on the way to Los Alamos. We fought over a can of beans before we were split up by the local rail conductor who forced Bob to reluctantly give me the beans that by then he’d wrapped in a bandana for safe keeping. Eventually the beans and bandana got packed away in a footlocker somewhere in the attic.  Upon hearing of his passing I dug through the attic, pulled out the footlocker and found that very bandana. When I opened it up, I cursed to the skies when found what I can only describe as a can-of-beans shaped rock with a note tied to it that read “No one bests Bobby D!”                                                                  Oh also we went to school and became Chemical Engineers together but mostly the bean thing. 


Christy and family I am so sorry for your loss. I am Charlotte‘a first cousin from Tennessee. I only knew Bob as a boy but happy to know what a full happy life he led.   I keep in touch with Paula .  Much love to you and prayers for comfort.
Margie Long 

Bob was an great big brother who always had your back. We shared  and celebrated together many memorable times throughout our lives.  I always respected how he excelled in everything he did.  Most of all he was an  amazing family man who lived life to  the fullest. I will also miss his weekly calls to share our golf scores and catch up. 

Bob is my friend, my colleague and my partner in crime. We had a lot of fun playing golf together, and we had had a blast on work trips looking for ways to get in some trouble — at least as much as two engineers can do — at the pub or restaurant nearby the job sites. 

Bob is the most welcoming person, and I cannot even think about how many times we got a beer or at least talked about getting a beer while checking over drawings. We both also talked a lot of sports, and he even accepted me even though I’m a Clemson grad. 

After retirement, I could count on Bob to call to plan our next escapade, and please know just how much I’m going to miss that for the remainder of my life. 

All my best to the Durland family. He will be sorely missed. 

— Rick

Hey Bob,

I did the math:
‘Bout 200 rounds of golf over the last 6 years.

Loved your competitive spirit.
Loved your stories about the kids
and about your beautiful wife.
(BTW, re: Christy, you seriously outkicked
your coverage there, Bud.)
Loved your generous “gimme’s”.
Loved the banter.
Loved the comraderie with you
and Jerry, Bill, Kathy, Rick, Al…..

You’re leaving a hole we won’t  even try to fill.

Hit ‘em straight and not too often.

See ya at the next tee.

Joe

Our connection with the Durland’s began when Bob coached our our son, Shawn and their son,  Zeke and the rest of the team in soccer.  They may have been 7 or 8. Bob’s patience was amazing. Christy was pregnant with Ethan at the time and my Kevin and their Katie played together at all the games. Fast forward, 20 years or so.. we reconnect because Katie and Kevin found each other and eventually married. We have enjoyed Christmas Eve desserts and games, dinners, watching babies and gatherings together, Bob always welcoming us and always a good sport. We think of his smile (best smile) and the love of his family. 

OBITUARY

Robert Earnest Durland

January 4, 1954 – January 5, 2022

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home

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