Donnie Ray Durbin

Major Donnie Ray Durbin, of Dallas Texas, took his final flight at 0600 on the morning of July 26th when he passed peacefully in his sleep with his Bible is his lap. D-Ray’s legacy lives on through his wife Pamela Brantley Durbin, his children Reid & Rachel Durbin and R. Blake & Jenny Smith, and his grandchildren Jackson & Zachary Durbin and Lillian & Byron Smith.

Our father was more than our hero here on Earth. He was her precious husband and soul mate, our angel daddy, our children’s worshiped PaPa, our family’s fiercest protector, and a cherished and true friend to many of you. If you knew D-Ray, you loved him and he loved you. He gave his love, friendship, laughter, wisdom and advice to all that were blessed enough to spend time with him.

D-Ray valiantly served his country for 24 years in the United States Marine Corps before retiring to Dallas to focus his attention on being with his family and Ray’s Sporting Goods, the family-owned and run business. He enlisted in the USMC in 1967 and attended recruit training at Paris Island, SC. After graduation, he proudly served two tours in Vietnam where he was wounded in a skirmish during the Tet Offensive. After his tours in Vietnam, he was selected for the highly competitive Marine Corps Enlisted Commisioning Program. He completed his degree at LA Tech and was Commissioned a 2nd Lt. Donnie then fulfilled his love of aviation by receiving training as a Naval Flight Officer. He flew hundreds of missions in RF-4 Phantoms before returning to Pensacola for flight training where he received his KC-130 pilot wings in 1982. Donnie then flew missions out of Cherry Point, NC from 1982-1985. He was then assigned to Little Creek, VA supporting “Special Operations” in Grenada and Beirut from 1986-1988. His last tour of duty was as an instructor pilot for KC-130’s at Cherry Point from 1988-91.

Donnie’s memorial visitation will be from 1-5pm at Sparkman Hillcrest on August 12th.

The family is creating a “PaPa Memory Jar” for his grandchildren. Please bring your favorite story or memory about our dad so that we may share your fondest memories of him on his heavenly birthday every year as a family. Don’t worry about age-appropriateness (for his military buddies); we will separate into categories. Let’s make sure his legendary stories live on.

Also, D-Ray loved to trade challenge coins. If you’re coming to the memorial, bring your challenge coin and trade with him one last time.

Heaven, “stand-by for a fighter pilot!” Thank you Daddy for your love, for the protection of everyone’s freedom, for your example, for your strength and integrity, and, most importantly, for loving our children and our mommy.

You’re cleared to land, Daddy. We’ve got it from here.