Ronnie F. Durham

Ronnie F. Durham, 79, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Lake Village, Arkansas to the late Jack and Vera Barnett Durham. Ronnie was a longtime resident of North Little Rock. He graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1965, attended Hendrix College and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Known by his coworkers as “Bull”, Ronnie dedicated 32 years of service to the Arkansas Air National Guard before retiring.

A faithful member of Park Hill Baptist Church for 48 years, Ronnie served as a deacon and was deeply committed to his church community and was known for his strong faith, kind heart, and willingness to serve others.

He was an avid sports fan and loved the Arkansas Razorbacks, St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. He spent many hours playing golf, fishing and attending sporting events with family and friends. His lifelong hobby was building model airplanes, especially airplanes flown in WWII. He loved history specifically Civil War and WWII history. Many of his trips with family and friends were planned around Civil War historical sites and WWII museums. In retirement, he loved to travel and made lasting memories traveling across the country and to many countries in Europe.

He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his quick wit, and his ability to bring joy to any moment—often with a perfectly timed joke or a song lyric for every situation. Ronnie will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Ronnie was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Kay; his daughters, Whitney Haynie (Bobby) and Ashley Wright (Brent); his sister, Jacqueline Gregg; and his cherished grandchildren, Colin Hoag and Elizabeth Wright, who brought him immense pride and joy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Diana Gail Clark.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 16 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Park Hill Baptist Church. Funeral service will be Friday, April 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the church with burial at 11:00 a.m. at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Park Hill Baptist Church or Urban Promise Arkansas, P.O. Box 1157, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72115.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. 501-758-1170.