The family of Robert G. Durbin, 65, of Barstow, CA. has requested the Patriot Guard Riders in honoring their beloved husband, father, and friend. It will be our honor to do so.
“Bob” Durbin, a lifelong resident of the High Desert city died 1 May 2016 after a battle with cancer.
Upon graduation from Barstow High School he enlisted in the US Navy in 1969. He had a problem with seasickness onboard surface vessels so he volunteered for submarine duty according to his wife Marcia. His highest rank according to her was E-3. Awards include the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze stars, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. Bob was honorably discharged in June 1973.
Following his discharge he worked as a security guard at Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Ft. Irwin. This set up the next phase of his life in 1977 as a deputy sheriff with the San Bernardino Sheriffs Dept, stationed primarily in Barstow. It was here that I (R/C Brian Zane) met and became friends with Bob when I became a Search and Rescue Reserve Deputy.
Bobs gentle manner and high pitched voice earned him the moniker of Deputy Barney Fife from the Andy of Mayberry show. He was very slow to anger but he earned the respect of his fellow deputies and those he arrested. According to his wife, who also worked at the Sheriffs Dept and would do ride alongs with her husband, she witnessed one arrestee thank her husband for arresting him. Another time his sister witnessed the same thing. Undoubtedly this brought pride to their eyes. How many other times this happened unwitnessed cannot be measured.
Bob retired from the SBSD in 2007, just shy of 30 years of service.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and travel with his wife Marcia and coin collecting. Not long before his battle with cancer ended they embarked on a journey on the western end of I-40, Barstow, to the eastern, Wilmington, NC. They then traveled to Arlington Cemetery, the most visited cemetery in the country, and then to the second most frequented, Springfield, IL where our 16th president Abraham Lincoln is buried. Following this they went to Devils Tower, WY.
Our hero is survived by his wife Marcia, son Blake of San Bernardino, brothers Mark and John, sisters Mary Jane and Teresa along with many other family members and friends.
He will forever be remembered as someone who treated EVERYONE like a friend and for advising others to “don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Wise deeds, wise words from a good cop.
RIP my friend.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family approximately 52 miles from the funeral home to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
TIMETABLE FOR WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2016: 0900: Assemble at Desert View Mortuary, 11478 Amargosa Rd., Victorville, CA (be prepared for a flag line IF our hero is loaded into a coach at this location)
https://goo.gl/maps/bDGri29VCqu0930-0945: Est KSU for Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518 (Staging area 4, PGR assemble north of Staging Area #8)
https://goo.gl/maps/jogP4cFW7A221045: Flag line and service with military honors
R/C: Brian Zane
aka Spyderman
SoCal PGR Ride Captain760-953-9915
brianzane@verizon.net
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please post your notes of condolences at the National link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?417414
