Reva Jane Durbin

Reva Jane Durbin, a Putnam County native and resident, passed away April 1, 2021, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO.

Reva Jane was born on a farm north of Lemons, MO, on June 10 ^th , 1928, the daughter of Edgar R and Lola Catherine (Kate Huston) Smith. Reva loved helping her Dad, Edgar, with the livestock on the farm.

Reva attended Triumph School the first five years (riding a horse to school). She transferred to Unionville Grade School in the sixth grade and graduated Unionville High School in 1946.  After graduation she was employed at Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) government office.  During 1948, she worked for Clare Magee’s winning Democratic State Representative Congress campaign.  In 1949, she went back to work for AAA, renamed as Production Marketing Association, before resigning to start a family with her husband, James O. Durbin, whom she married on January 10, 1953.  Four children were born to this union and Reva and James settled on a farm adjoining her parents’ farm.

In 1972 Reva returned to work at the Soil Conservation Office, in 1978 she clerked for Farmers Home Administration, in 1994 she retired from government employment and began at Putnam County State Bank as a filing clerk until 2012 when failing health returned her to retirement.

After retiring, Reva volunteered at the Putnam County Museum making scrapbooks on the county’s history and people.  She liked doing scrapbooks and made several on her own family’s history.

Reva enjoyed traveling the United States from coast to coast with her family.  Within Missouri, her family enjoyed attending and camping at the State Fair with Reva. She was a NASCAR fan and favored the Cardinals and Braves baseball teams.  Reva sang with the Keynotes Singers, served as Mother Advisor for the Order of Rainbow Girls, was President of PTA at Lemons School, and was a member of the Unionville United Methodist Church having played the piano and organ for 45 years.

Reva is survived by sons, Jimmie Durbin and wife Janie of Lemons, MO; Joe Durbin of Unionville, MO; Jerry Durbin and wife Lisa of Chillicothe, MO; and a daughter, Janet Goodin and husband Jack of Princeton, MO.  Reva’s surviving grandchildren are David Durbin, Jed Durbin, Angie Thumma, Jimmie Dale Goodin, Jake Goodin, Joni Lewman, Jaci Durbin, and Jennifer Durbin.  She is also survived by 17 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Reva was preceded in death by her parents, husband James O. Durbin, and sister, Dora Catherine Smith.

Funeral services for Reva are at Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2021.  Visitation is Tuesday, April 6, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment is in the Unionville Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested and checks should be made out to PC Ministerial Alliance or to Putnam County Historical Society. They may be entrusted to Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27 ^th St, Unionville, MO 63565