John F Darst

A native Daytonian, Jack was an aviation major at Parker Coop High School and soloed in an Aeronica Camp in 1946 at the age of sixteen. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati as an Electrical Engineer. Jack served in the Army Signal Corps, most significantly as an operations officer for worldwide network of monitoring stations.

He retired from GM as facilities manager for Delco Moraine New Departure Hyatt Division, having enjoyed the challenges in creating new manufacturing facilities both domestically and abroad.

For more than 60 years he attended the Indianapolis 500.

His love of flying spurred his involvement with the Moraine Airpark where he served on the board for 20 years. Jack was a commercial instrument rated pilot who as part of the EA Young Eagle program flew 877 young people for their first flight, inspiring our future generations' love of aviation. As an active member of EAA he attended Airventure in Oshkosh for more than 50 years. Other aviation memberships include AOPA, UFO (United Flying Octogenarians) and Aviation Trail, Inc. He was a supporter of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Jack was honored with the Master Pilot Award from FAA. He flew his Piper Arrow throughout the United States, Canada and Caribbean.

A member of the Engineers Club of Dayton for more than 60 years, Jack served on the Board of Governors, headed the Building and Grounds Committee for more than a decade, headed the major restoration project in the 1990's and received the Deeds-Kettering Award.

Jack traveled the world and in retirement enjoyed the opportunity for in depth experiences with Friendship Force. He served as a judge for the Dayton Walk of Fame. He was part of the United Methodist Church.

His forebears settled in Greene County in 1804. Jack Darst was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Barbara and his brother Warren and his wife Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Betty who was his co-pilot; stepchildren, Janet (Rich) Moore of Nashville, Tennessee; granddaughters Christina and Angela, Diana (Rick) Veid of Cincinnati; granddaughter Rebecca, Glenn Michael Geiger (Jennifer) of West Chester; grandchildren Timothy, Lindsey and Marcus (Heather).

There will be no services = a missing man formation will take place at a later date. Interment at Woodland. His name will be enshrined on the Memorial Wall at EAA in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Jack was dedicated to the community and in lieu of flowers, challenges people to help the institutions of this community through this challenging time.