J. A. Darden, 86, of Cedar Park, Texas, died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, at Lighthouse Hospice in Round Rock, Texas.
Born April 1, 1925, at Utica, to Aubrey Lee Darden and Etta Mae (Bagwell) Darden, he grew up in Atoka and Pittsburg Counties. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1943 and Eastern State College in Wilburton. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1943, and was accepted into the 17th Airborne Division.
He was a paratrooper with the 517th Parachute Combat Team, attached at times to the 82nd & 101st airborne battalions during WWII. He saw duty in Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After being honorably discharged at the end of WWII, he served in the Army Reserves. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served from November 9, 1950 to October 18, 1951. Once again he was honorably discharged and achieved the rank of T-sergeant.
Citations he earned were Silver Star, Arrowhead Invasion, Five Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, WW II Victory Medal, Joint Services Commendation, American Defense, Armed Services Reserve, French and Belgium Cruix DeGuerre as well as the Korean Defense Medal.
After leaving the military he remained in McAlester and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of McAlester serving on many church committees. He was active in several civic organizations including past assistant to the city mayor, McAlester Planning Commission, McAlester Housing Authority, McAlester Tree Board, and a member of the McAlester School Board from 1982 until 1998, a total of 16 consecutive years. He was also an active member of the American Legion Harrison-Power Post No. 79 and also a 32nd Degree Mason with the Masonic Lodge No. 550.
After retiring from Rockwell International/Boeing in 1987, he enjoyed several hobbies most notably restoring old cars and "RVing" with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Louetta (Lou) Welsh Darden; daughter, Kristie and Chuck Wright, of Cedar Park, Texas; son, Thomas and Christina Darden, of Broken Arrow; son, Bill and Marilyn Darden, of Springfield, Va.
Nine grandchildren, Jeffery Wright, of College Station, Texas, Stephen Wright, Aaron Wright, Jonathan Wright, Ashley Wright, all of Cedar Park, Texas, Jessica Darden, Jillian Darden, and Moriah Darden, all of Broken Arrow, and Jonathan Darden, of Washington, DC; nephew, Kent Wheeler and Robyn Wheeler, of Oklahoma City; cousins, John Bagwell and Rosemary Bagwell, of Plano, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Darden; his sister, Marcheta Wheeler, and brother-in-law, K.D. Wheeler.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brumley Mills Funeral Home of McAlester with Dr. Dub Brown officiating. Music will be provided by Rodney Briggs. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brumley Mills Funeral Home.
Published: McAlester News Capital 8-5-2011
Born April 1, 1925, at Utica, to Aubrey Lee Darden and Etta Mae (Bagwell) Darden, he grew up in Atoka and Pittsburg Counties. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1943 and Eastern State College in Wilburton. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1943, and was accepted into the 17th Airborne Division.
He was a paratrooper with the 517th Parachute Combat Team, attached at times to the 82nd & 101st airborne battalions during WWII. He saw duty in Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After being honorably discharged at the end of WWII, he served in the Army Reserves. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served from November 9, 1950 to October 18, 1951. Once again he was honorably discharged and achieved the rank of T-sergeant.
Citations he earned were Silver Star, Arrowhead Invasion, Five Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, WW II Victory Medal, Joint Services Commendation, American Defense, Armed Services Reserve, French and Belgium Cruix DeGuerre as well as the Korean Defense Medal.
After leaving the military he remained in McAlester and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of McAlester serving on many church committees. He was active in several civic organizations including past assistant to the city mayor, McAlester Planning Commission, McAlester Housing Authority, McAlester Tree Board, and a member of the McAlester School Board from 1982 until 1998, a total of 16 consecutive years. He was also an active member of the American Legion Harrison-Power Post No. 79 and also a 32nd Degree Mason with the Masonic Lodge No. 550.
After retiring from Rockwell International/Boeing in 1987, he enjoyed several hobbies most notably restoring old cars and "RVing" with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Louetta (Lou) Welsh Darden; daughter, Kristie and Chuck Wright, of Cedar Park, Texas; son, Thomas and Christina Darden, of Broken Arrow; son, Bill and Marilyn Darden, of Springfield, Va.
Nine grandchildren, Jeffery Wright, of College Station, Texas, Stephen Wright, Aaron Wright, Jonathan Wright, Ashley Wright, all of Cedar Park, Texas, Jessica Darden, Jillian Darden, and Moriah Darden, all of Broken Arrow, and Jonathan Darden, of Washington, DC; nephew, Kent Wheeler and Robyn Wheeler, of Oklahoma City; cousins, John Bagwell and Rosemary Bagwell, of Plano, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Darden; his sister, Marcheta Wheeler, and brother-in-law, K.D. Wheeler.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brumley Mills Funeral Home of McAlester with Dr. Dub Brown officiating. Music will be provided by Rodney Briggs. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brumley Mills Funeral Home.
Published: McAlester News Capital 8-5-2011
J. A. Darden, 86, of Cedar Park, Texas, died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, at Lighthouse Hospice in Round Rock, Texas.
Born April 1, 1925, at Utica, to Aubrey Lee Darden and Etta Mae (Bagwell) Darden, he grew up in Atoka and Pittsburg Counties. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1943 and Eastern State College in Wilburton. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1943, and was accepted into the 17th Airborne Division.
He was a paratrooper with the 517th Parachute Combat Team, attached at times to the 82nd & 101st airborne battalions during WWII. He saw duty in Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After being honorably discharged at the end of WWII, he served in the Army Reserves. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served from November 9, 1950 to October 18, 1951. Once again he was honorably discharged and achieved the rank of T-sergeant.
Citations he earned were Silver Star, Arrowhead Invasion, Five Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, WW II Victory Medal, Joint Services Commendation, American Defense, Armed Services Reserve, French and Belgium Cruix DeGuerre as well as the Korean Defense Medal.
After leaving the military he remained in McAlester and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of McAlester serving on many church committees. He was active in several civic organizations including past assistant to the city mayor, McAlester Planning Commission, McAlester Housing Authority, McAlester Tree Board, and a member of the McAlester School Board from 1982 until 1998, a total of 16 consecutive years. He was also an active member of the American Legion Harrison-Power Post No. 79 and also a 32nd Degree Mason with the Masonic Lodge No. 550.
After retiring from Rockwell International/Boeing in 1987, he enjoyed several hobbies most notably restoring old cars and "RVing" with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Louetta (Lou) Welsh Darden; daughter, Kristie and Chuck Wright, of Cedar Park, Texas; son, Thomas and Christina Darden, of Broken Arrow; son, Bill and Marilyn Darden, of Springfield, Va.
Nine grandchildren, Jeffery Wright, of College Station, Texas, Stephen Wright, Aaron Wright, Jonathan Wright, Ashley Wright, all of Cedar Park, Texas, Jessica Darden, Jillian Darden, and Moriah Darden, all of Broken Arrow, and Jonathan Darden, of Washington, DC; nephew, Kent Wheeler and Robyn Wheeler, of Oklahoma City; cousins, John Bagwell and Rosemary Bagwell, of Plano, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Darden; his sister, Marcheta Wheeler, and brother-in-law, K.D. Wheeler.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brumley Mills Funeral Home of McAlester with Dr. Dub Brown officiating. Music will be provided by Rodney Briggs. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brumley Mills Funeral Home.
Published: McAlester News Capital 8-5-2011
Born April 1, 1925, at Utica, to Aubrey Lee Darden and Etta Mae (Bagwell) Darden, he grew up in Atoka and Pittsburg Counties. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1943 and Eastern State College in Wilburton. He entered the U.S. Army in June 1943, and was accepted into the 17th Airborne Division.
He was a paratrooper with the 517th Parachute Combat Team, attached at times to the 82nd & 101st airborne battalions during WWII. He saw duty in Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After being honorably discharged at the end of WWII, he served in the Army Reserves. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served from November 9, 1950 to October 18, 1951. Once again he was honorably discharged and achieved the rank of T-sergeant.
Citations he earned were Silver Star, Arrowhead Invasion, Five Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, WW II Victory Medal, Joint Services Commendation, American Defense, Armed Services Reserve, French and Belgium Cruix DeGuerre as well as the Korean Defense Medal.
After leaving the military he remained in McAlester and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of McAlester serving on many church committees. He was active in several civic organizations including past assistant to the city mayor, McAlester Planning Commission, McAlester Housing Authority, McAlester Tree Board, and a member of the McAlester School Board from 1982 until 1998, a total of 16 consecutive years. He was also an active member of the American Legion Harrison-Power Post No. 79 and also a 32nd Degree Mason with the Masonic Lodge No. 550.
After retiring from Rockwell International/Boeing in 1987, he enjoyed several hobbies most notably restoring old cars and "RVing" with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Louetta (Lou) Welsh Darden; daughter, Kristie and Chuck Wright, of Cedar Park, Texas; son, Thomas and Christina Darden, of Broken Arrow; son, Bill and Marilyn Darden, of Springfield, Va.
Nine grandchildren, Jeffery Wright, of College Station, Texas, Stephen Wright, Aaron Wright, Jonathan Wright, Ashley Wright, all of Cedar Park, Texas, Jessica Darden, Jillian Darden, and Moriah Darden, all of Broken Arrow, and Jonathan Darden, of Washington, DC; nephew, Kent Wheeler and Robyn Wheeler, of Oklahoma City; cousins, John Bagwell and Rosemary Bagwell, of Plano, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Darden; his sister, Marcheta Wheeler, and brother-in-law, K.D. Wheeler.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brumley Mills Funeral Home of McAlester with Dr. Dub Brown officiating. Music will be provided by Rodney Briggs. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brumley Mills Funeral Home.
Published: McAlester News Capital 8-5-2011
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