Beloved brother, father, and grandfather, Durwood Truitt Ransdell, age 89, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at Universal Healthcare of Fuquay-Varina. A native of Varina, North Carolina, Durwood was born at home on August 31, 1930, to the late John Sanford Ransdell and Annie Myatt Ransdell, the third-born of nine children.

Durwood served in the U.S. Army for 27 years, earning the rank of Sergeant Major and completing two tours in Vietnam. He was stationed twice overseas in Germany, serving a cumulative of six years in Heidelberg and Mannheim. Durwood was a proud member of the local German, Austrian, and Swiss cultural club and enjoyed hosting his fellow members in his home, which he built himself after being inspired by German architecture.

During his time in the Army, Durwood was awarded seven Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, a Vietnam Service Medal, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Bronze Star Medal, a Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal Unit Citation, and a Meritorious Service Medal.

In addition to his parents, Durwood was preceded in death by six of his siblings: Aldonia R. Covington and her husband Robert; Josephine R. Parker and her husband Henry; Marilyn R. Rambeaut and her husband Walter; Mary R. Webster and her husband Paul; Ann R. Reed and her husband Bill; and James Morton Ransdell, his only brother.

He is survived by two sisters: Betty Lou R. Ennis of Raleigh, and Juanita Ransdell Medlin and her husband Joseph "Skinny" Medlin Sr.; his children: Wanda Rose Ransdell of Fuquay-Varina, and Juliana Suzanne Ransdell of Raleigh; and his three grandchildren: Jeffrey Albert Berst and his wife Stephanie Bullins Berst of Hurdle Mills, Angela Nichole Berst of Orlando, FL, and Ryan David Berst of San Francisco, CA.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 13 at noon, with open visitation starting at 10 AM. Montlawn Funeral Home in Raleigh is serving the Ransdell family and all are invited to share memories or offer condolences.