Gene Bruce Durrett

1930 - 2010

Gene Bruce Durrett 1930 - 2010 Gene was born April 11, 1930 in Bakersfield, CA and passed away December 29, 2010 in Paso Robles, CA. He is survived by his loving wife, Marty; granddaughter, Lauren Montana; cousins, Don Camp, Bill Camp, Norman Peterson, Jane Lehman, and John App; nephews, Don Durrett, Mike Durrett, Greg Durrett; nieces, Kathy Tuculet, Lou Ann Durrett, and Michele Waldron. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry; mother, Iva; brothers, Jack and Tom; daughter, Diane; and son, Douglas. Gene attended local Bakersfield schools including East High School and Bakersfield College where he was active in athletics and student government. He continued his education at San Jose and Fresno State Colleges. Before beginning his career in Education, Gene served as a U.S. Army Military Police Desk Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. Gene began his teaching career in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District (then Panama Union School District) in 1956. His first assignment was at the Panama School when all of the students (K-8) were housed at the only school in the district. His first assignment was a self-contained seventh grade. In the following years, after departmentalization of the junior high curriculum, he taught English, History, and later, Physical Education, as well as serving as the district's Recreation Director. Eventually he moved from the junior high to the intermediate grades, and, then, in 1967, he was appointed Principal of Panama School when Thompson Junior High opened. In 1969, when the Wayne Van Horn School was constructed, he was assigned to the school as its first principal. In 1977, Gene was appointed principal of the newly constructed Stockdale Elementary School; then in 1987, he was assigned to the Stine Elementary School and supervised the remodeling of the then 30 year-old school prior to his retirement in 1992. During Gene's career he worked with many, many teachers and felt that any success he had had was due to the great jobs they did. He also encountered thousands of boys and girls as a teacher and principal. He truly enjoyed them all and loved hearing of their successes and had much empathy for those who encountered difficulty. While living in Bakersfield, Gene was a member of the California Teachers Association and the California Reading Association. Later, he was a member of the Association of California School Administrators. Also, he was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, a charter member of the Stockdale-West Kiwanis Club, a member of American Legion Post #432 in Cambria, and later a member of Post #50 in Paso Robles. Gene was also a life-long member of St. Paul's Anglican Parish in Bakersfield until his move to Cambria in 2004 at which time he became a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cambria where he served as a member of the Finance Committee. He joined St. James the Apostle Episcopal Church in Paso Robles when he and Marty moved there in 2008. Although Gene had many pleasant memories, he was especially fond of recalling the Monday Night Football gatherings with his high school buddies Cookie Barbeau, Don Galey, Harry Gray, Don Hall, Jack Randolph, Jim Riley, Dewey Sceales, and Irian Warren. Gene enjoyed the peaceful life style of the California Central Coast where he and Marty and their cats were full-time residents. Much appreciation for Hospice of SLO County and to his caregiver, Frank Simmerman, for the wonderful care Gene received. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 29th, 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Anglican Parish, 2216 17th St., in Bakersfield, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Anglican Foundation of Kern County, c/o St. Paul's Anglican Parish. www.bakersfield.com/obits