DOWNEY - Robert F. "Bob" Durkee, a Downey resident and former Downey city planning commissioner, passed away May 1.He had been residing at Brookfield Healthcare Center in Downey since December of 2008. Durkee was born Feb. 14, 1921 in LaGrange, Ill. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City in 1939 before attending junior college. He entered the Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot, flying P-47s in Europe during World War II. He moved to Downey in 1946 after the war, and met his wife Sarah at Downey United Methodist Church, where they had remained members. Durkee was active in the church, PTA, and was a planning commissioner for Downey. He graduated from Long Beach State in 1968, and worked for North American Rockwell and Safeway Stores as an industrial engineer. He and his wife moved to Bishop, Calif. after they retired in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; sons, Raymond and Donald Durkee; daughters-in-law, Vivian and April Durkee; and grandchildren, Matthew and Alison Durkee. A memorial service was held yesterday at Downey United Methodist Church. Any contributions may be sent to Downey United Methodist Church or Friends of the Inyo, 699 West Line St., Suite A, Bishop, CA, 93514.

********** Published: May 8, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 3