GILBERT DURBIN Obituary: Terrebonne Parish, La. Submitted by: Louis Lavedan Source: Houma Courier, Houma, Terrebonne Parish, La. 5 Oct 2004 ================================================== ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ================================================== NOTES: 1. The date preceding the obituary is the date of posting on the WWW, not the date of death. ============================= September 26. 2004 1:37AM Gilbert Durbin [Photo] Gilbert J. Durbin, 90, a native of Gilliam and longtime resident of New Orleans, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the chapel at Williamsburg Assisted Living, 5445 Government St. in Baton Rouge with Pastor Richard Metz officiating. Visitation will be 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home, 1010 Pandora St. in Lafayette. A private interment service will follow at Fountain Memorial Gardens in Lafayette. He is survived by his beloved wife of four years, Mary D. Ford Durbin; two daughters, Elaine D. Abell and Doris D. Heard; two sons-in-law, Edward C. Abell Jr. and Dr. John Gregory Heard; two grandchildren, Christopher Heard and Jessica Abell; and one brother, Harold Durbin of Tyler, Texas. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Rachel Wallice O'Quin Durbin; and one grandson, Edward Charles Abell III. Known to friends and family alike as Durbin, he lived most of his life in New Orleans, serving as the vice president and general manager of the American Sugar Cane League from 1951 to his retirement in 1979. His unending interest, concern and support of the Louisiana sugar industry continued throughout his life. In 1979, he was honored with an award for his contributions to the Louisiana sugar industry and his outstanding contributions to the welfare of his fellow man. He was again honored by the sugar industry when he served as King Sucrose XXXVIII at the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival in 1979. Durbin was valedictorian of his high school class in Belcher in 1931, received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Louisiana State University in 1935 and a master of science degree in agricultural economics from LSU in 1951. In 1998, Durbin was recognized by the New Orleans Heart Association as "Caretaker of the Year" for his loving and dedicated care of his wife, Wallice, in the last years of her life. Durbin will be remembered for his great sense of humor, many acts of kindness and the fact that he was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He loved entertaining his friends and family. He was always a loyal LSU fan and supporter, and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He will be missed by his family and especially by his wife, Mary D. Ford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to LSU Foundation -- Durbin Professorship, Office of the Chancellor, LSU Agricultural Center, P.O. Box 25203, Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5203. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.