William Frederick Durland, Sr.

MONROE - William Frederick “Bill” Durland, Sr., 87, passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

Bill was born in Franklin, NJ on June 27, 1936 to George Reeve Durland and Frances Cornelia Sanford Durland. His family lived on Lake Mohawk where he learned to appreciate nature at a young age. He enjoyed fishing, hiking, ice skating, ice hockey, and baseball. He was also introduced to music from a young age, where his father enjoyed playing the organ and singing in the choir. Bill was blessed with a beautiful baritone voice. He started singing in grammar school and continued into High School, where he was selected to sing in the New Jersey State Honors Chorus.

Bill graduated from Sparta High School in Sparta, New Jersey in 1954. He then attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. While at UT, he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He was also an active member of the UT Singers and was chosen to sing with a select ensemble known as the Ten Men. After graduation from UT, he started his career as an engineer at Yale and Towne Lock and Hardware Company. Bill moved to Monroe, NC in 1963 from Rye, New York, having been transferred by Yale and Towne to their plant in Monroe as Chief Manufacturing Engineer. After working for Yale and Towne for many years, Bill started his own business, William F. Durland Associates, where he continued to work as a manufacturing engineer. He specialized in projects involving the manufacture of paper, plastic, and textiles in businesses throughout North and South Carolina. Bill was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for 15 years. He also served his country as a member of the Army Reserves.

Bill married Janie Catherine Wood on July 10th, 1965 and they were married for 59 happy and loving years. They were best friends and inseparable for those 59 years. Bill and Janie had 2 children, Betsy and Billy, who were the joy of Bill’s life. He made a point to be at all their swim meets, tennis matches, band concerts, baseball games and soccer matches. He shared his love for all of God’s creations including wildlife, wildflowers, rocks and gems, birds and butterflies. His advocation for the preservation of the earth’s resources stemmed from his love of nature. Family trips included gem mining, panning for gold, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, and surf-fishing at the beach. He frequently camped with his son’s Boy Scout troop and helped him build a Pinewood Derby car that won “most beautiful”. He also enjoyed fishing and clay shooting with church friends and family. Bill’s life was enriched by five grandchildren. He was so very proud of each of them. His life was further enriched with the enjoyment of his son- and daughter-in-law. Bill was a member of the Nature Conservancy and the Mecklenburg County Rock and Gem Society.

Bill continued his passion for music, serving in the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe choir for 60 years, where he often performed duets and solos and toured with the choir in England, Scotland and Ireland, singing at Westminster Abbey, Ely Cathedral and other churches and cathedrals. He could talk for hours with the choir director about organ music, choral arrangements, and how organs are built. He and his family spent many weekends attending organ and symphony concerts. Bill was a member of the Charlotte Choral Society.

The church and the teachings of Jesus guided Bill his whole life. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Monroe for 60 years, serving as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth Club Volunteer. He was active with the Men of the Church. He served on the personnel committee, nominating committees, the property committee, and the architectural selection committee for a new education building. He enjoyed singing in musical productions performed with the members of the Church. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels and had a special calling for visiting the sick. He was active with the Willis Fellowship Class and was passionate about helping those in need, cooking many meals for the homeless shelter.

Bill also stayed busy with his many hobbies. He was a stamp collector, coin collector, photographer, gardener, painter and craftsman. He was particularly passionate about crafting fine furniture - a stickler for details (and perfect dovetails). He combined his love of art and his precision engineering skills to craft many pieces of fine furniture.

Bill is survived by his adoring wife of 59 years, Janie Catherine Wood Durland; daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Durland Gantt and her husband, Matthew Menefee “Matt” Gantt, and their children Matthew Menefee Gantt, Jr. and Christopher Durland Gantt of Charlotte, NC; son, Dr. William Frederick “Bill” Durland, Jr. and his wife, Kimberly Weisenborn Durland, and their children William Frederick Durland, III, Zoe Alexandra Durland, and Elizabeth Anne Durland of Raleigh, NC; brother, George Sanford Durland of Potomac, Maryland; brother-in-law, George Larry Wood, and his wife, Cynthia Counts Wood of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and sister-in-law, Elsie Comorat Durland of Potomac, Maryland.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, January 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 302 E. Windsor St., Monroe, NC 28112. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Building Fund of First Presbyterian Church Monroe, NC.

Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112 is honored to be entrusted to care for the Durland Family.