Robert a DurantRobert A. Durant was born in 1936, number eight in a family of nine children. He saw the first of four older brothers leave for WWII in 1941. His dad was a share-crop farmer. Robert learned to plow at the age of 12. He worked as an Ad Composer in newpapers for 17 years. In 1974, he went to work for a chemical plant in Lufkin, Texas, producing Formaldehyde and Industrial resins. He retired in 1999 as a Lead Operator Technician. It was after he retired that he wrote In the Shade of the Oaks. He still loves to work in his garden, spend time with his wife of 60 years, and their four children and grandchildren. Read More Read Less