Ralph Durrance, Jr.

LAKELAND - Mr. W. Ralph Durrance, Jr., Esq., 71, passed away at home on April 21, 2011 due to heart failure. Mr. Durrance was born on October 17, 1939 at the Bartow City Hospital in Bartow, Florida. He attended Fort Meade schools and graduated in June, 1957. After high school, Ralph attended Emory at Oxford, Emory University and Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, graduating from Parsons in June, 1962. On August 1, 1963, Ralph enlisted in the United States Army and served until August, 1966 in the White House Communications Agency. After returning to Fort Meade, Ralph worked for the family business and then entered Florida State University College of Law, graduating in 1971. He practiced law in Tallahassee and then returned to Polk County in 1978 where he practiced law until his death. He was preceded in death by his parents, W. Ralph Durrance, Sr. and Margaret L. Durrance, brother William L. Durrance who were all of Fort Meade. Mr. Durrance is survived by his son, W. Ralph Durrance, III (Melissa), Lakeland, FL; daughter, Stephanie Durrance Brown (Joel), Parkland, FL; two sisters, Stephanie Jane Billings (Thomas), Lakeland, FL and Dawn D. Beynon (Howard), Fort Meade, FL; grandchildren, William, Jacob, Nicholas, Addison, Brookes, Bennett and Amelia, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 25, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church, 135 East Broadway, Fort Meade, FL with the Dr. W. Waite Willis officiating. Private family interment services will be held in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade or to the Tommy Billings Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, 1501 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33803. Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade 863-285-8171