Philip Edward Durbin

Philip Edward Durbin was born on April 26, 1941 in Ontario, Oregon. He was the middle child of John Arthur Durbin and Helen Virginia (Kiholm) Durbin. When Phil was 7 months old the family moved to Shelley, Idaho…the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He spent the rest of his life in Shelley, except for his time in the military and two years in Colorado. 

Phil attended Shelley High School where he played almost every sport, excelling in football, baseball, basketball, and track. When he was a Sophomore, a pretty young Freshman asked him to the Co-Ed Ball (a girls’ choice dance). They had a fun time, but not much came of it. The following year (now a Junior and Sophomore) she asked him again. Her name was Ann Thompson. From that date on, they were an item. Two days after graduating High School in 1959, he left for Army boot camp. It was there he received training in drafting, sparking a lifelong passion. He had several posts in the US and spent 13 months in Korea. While on leave at Christmas 1960, he got down on one knee and proposed to Ann (Spoiler Alert: she said “Yes!”). They were married on June 16, 1961 in the Idaho Falls Temple and were happily married for 63 years.

At the time of the wedding, Phil was stationed in Texas. So they loaded up the car and they moved to San Antone. Texas, that is. Stiflin’ heat. Alamo. After their time in San Antonio, they moved back to Shelley to begin their civilian life and to start a family. As if raising five children wasn’t time consuming enough, Phil went to Idaho State University and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree. He spent the rest of his career in the Drafting/Architecture field. He lived in the same home most of his life. His Grandparents built the house, his parents raised him there, and it’s where Phil and Ann raised their family. 

Phil never met a hobby he didn’t enthusiastically embrace. He played softball, took up bow hunting (for one day), learned how to fly-fish, earned his pilot license, and panned for gold. He enjoyed HO trains and would build elaborate landscapes and scenery to run them through. He loved to cook, became a licensed Ham Radio operator, and joined a bowling league (with Ann). He became very skilled at woodworking: building dollhouses, cornhole boards, and birdhouses. He also turned pens, dishes, and candlesticks on his lathe. He would build intricate, aerodynamic pinewood derby cars for his grandchildren, often forgetting that the child was supposed to be involved in the creation of it. He learned how to paint, and he loved photography, even turning a basement bathroom into a darkroom to develop his own film. As a lifelong learner, he took piano lessons in his 70’s from his daughter-in-law, Ginger. His efforts were on display (along with a group of 8- and 9-year-olds) at a recital of Ginger’s students. His hilarious tribute to Victor Borge, before he actually played his prepared piece, was puzzling to most, but laughingly appreciated by those who understood the reference and his deadpan humor. That performance lives on in YouTube infamy. 

Phil’s main character trait was competitiveness. He felt that if you didn’t keep score, it didn’t happen. He definitely instilled that trait in his children. Everyone in the family plays Pinochle (also a requirement for anyone they wanted to bring into the family). Even most of the grandkids learned how to play. All the way to the end of his life, if there was a family card game, ping-pong tournament, pie-eating contest, or football pool…Phil was right in the middle of it, often winning. In the 1980’s the family started an “NFL Pre-Pick” competition that is now in its 41st year. 

Phil and Ann loved to be home, but they also loved to travel. They took many fun trips on their own and with their children: Japan, Whistler, New York City, Florida, Washington DC, Branson, church history tours, Seattle, California, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, and every other place within driving distance of Shelley. Give him an atlas and a back road and he was in heaven. He could tell you every city along every highway in Idaho (and surrounding states). If you played travel trivia games, he was a worthy opponent. 

Phil’s family perfected the art of the eye roll when almost every conversation prompted a reference to an old movie (usually a Western or war movie). At the slightest provocation, he would launch into a detailed plot summary including a list of each cast member and every other movie that cast member starred in. For years he stayed up late at night watching old movies over and over again. His family loved to tease him. His last full sentence was his oft used phrase, “Why is everyone always pickin’ on me?” 

Phil was a quiet man, unless he was around his family. He made us laugh every day over something he said or inadvertently said. His grandkids and great grandkids loved him and his goofy sense of humor. He was a wonderful role model of what a person should be, always kind and thoughtful. 

Phil was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was very devout and served many callings in the church, even printing all the Sunday programs every week into his 80’s. 

Phil passed away the morning of December 16, 2024 at the age of 83 after several years of successfully fighting off multiple illnesses. He is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, John ‘Bus’ Durbin and Bud Durbin. He is also predeceased by his youngest child Debbie Burch, his daughter-in-law Ginger Durbin, and his niece Lori Moad. 

He is survived by his wife Ann and his children, Liz Hardman (Leon), Emmett, ID; Doug (Mark Wittman), Seattle, WA; Gregg (Takako Watanabe), Fujiyoshida, Japan; Darren, Shelley, ID; and his son-in-law Rocky Burch, Shelley, ID. 

He is survived by his 17 grandchildren: Logan (Courtney), Brooke (Alex), Andrew, Jordan (Jessica), Erin (Tyler), Kirtland (Staci), Will (Brooke), Merida, Trey, Reggie, Lindsey (Davis), Adelaide, Ty, Preston, Aimee, Emma, and Anna. Also 11 great-grandchildren with one more due next month. 

The family would like to thank Kara Yancey for her loving Hospice support as a nurse and a family friend. 

There will be a viewing at the Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street on Thursday, December 26th from 6PM to 7:30PM. There will be a private family gathering and graveside service at a later date.

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