Ralph Vinson Durham

Ralph Vinson “R.V.” Durham went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 17, 2026. He was a beloved father, husband, Poppy to his grandchildren, son, brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him. R.V. was born August 19, 1931, in Durham, NC, to parents Floyd T. Durham and Anna Belle Davis. He spent his early years in Durham and St. Paul, NC and Newport News, VA.

He knew the meaning of hard work starting in his youth, having a newspaper route, working in cotton fields, and helping his Dad out in the family restaurant in Newport News. Coming from humble means instilled in him the value of work and the opportunity to share that value with others. After graduating from high school, R.V. joined the trucking industry and drove for Roadway Express. At twenty years old, he met the love of his life, Ethel “Skeets” McDaniel, marrying in 1951. R.V. and Skeets were married for 61 years, living most of that time in Winston-Salem, while raising their son and daughter. After retirement, R.V. and Skeets enjoyed traveling to Europe and across the U.S.

In the early 1960s, he was elected as a business agent for Teamsters Local 391, later representing the members as Secretary Treasurer, and later as President. He was asked to go to Washington, D.C. in the early 1970s to start the Health and Safety Department of the International Teamsters, where he served on the executive board as Vice President. He appeared numerous times before Congress, working closely with OSHA to make the trucking industry safer, and served on the National Health Advisory Board. He was appointed by Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan to serve on the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee. In 1991, he ran for International President of the Teamsters. R.V. managed to continue leading the Local 391, along with these responsibilities in D.C., until his retirement in 1996.

R.V. had a servant’s heart and loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He strived to help others, whether negotiating a contract for better working conditions or helping children with disabilities while volunteering with the National Cerebral Palsy organization. He was a man of faith and loved his church, particularly his Sunday School class at Knollwood Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Skeets; his parents; stepmother, Ruth Durham; brother, Floyd T. Durham Jr.; sister, Norma Newell; and brother, David Durham. He is survived by his son, Ralph Durham Jr. (Sharon); daughter, Sandra “Sandy” D. Pulliam; grandchildren, Ross Durham (Kevin), Meredith Pulliam, and Natalie Pulliam; and siblings Jolyn Carraway, Jean Norwood, James Shaw, and John Durham (Debbie).

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel in Winston-Salem, with Dr. Bob Setzer and the Rev. Chris Norman officiating. A visitation will be prior to the service at 1:00 pm. The committal service will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 23, at Forsyth Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Salvation Army or Knollwood Baptist Church Celebration Fund.

Many thanks to all who helped care for Dad in his final months of life.

We love you so much, Dad, and will miss you beyond words. But we rejoice that you are with the Lord. “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”