David Albert Darling

Born on February 3, 1949, in Bangor, Maine, David lived a life defined by his devotion to his family, his distinguished career in electrical engineering, his pride in sharing stories of his early years, and his deep ties to both his Maine roots and his later years in Texas.

David was the beloved husband of Helen Darling (née Jolly), with whom he shared a lifetime of love and partnership. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Audra Darling, and son, Craig Darling, and a proud grandfather to Sage, India, and Shane, who brought immense joy to his life. He loved his nieces and nephews dearly, cherishing the time spent with his extended family. He is also survived by his brother, Jon Darling, and sister-in-law, Roz Darling, and was predeceased by his parents, Olyn Darling and Murel Bickford, as well as his sister, Judy.

In his final months, David faced small cell lung cancer and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with extraordinary courage. He was cared for with unwavering devotion by his wife, Helen; his son, Craig, and daughter-in-law, Shawni Darling; his daughter, Audra, and her fiancé, Jen Lovell; and a cherished family friend, Renee. Their love and support surrounded him, reflecting the tight-knit family he held dear.

A proud Mainer, David grew up in Bangor and attended Portland High School, where he took pride in his athletic achievements, notably winning an award in the intermediate 300 track and field race in 1967, a story he loved to share with others. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and shortly after, he and Helen welcomed their daughter, Audra, in Bangor. They then moved to Portland, Maine, where they welcomed their son, Craig. In the early 1980s, the family relocated to Durham, Maine, where they continued to grow and thrive. After the move to Durham, Craig and Shawni welcomed their daughter, Sage, when they were very young, late teenagers, and David and Helen embraced her arrival with unwavering love and support, strengthening their family bond. In Durham, David and Helen warmly supported Audra’s prior husband, Jack Huntington, welcoming Audra and Jack to live with them for several years, fostering a close family environment. They also extended their caring touch to Christy Darling, Audra’s second spouse after Jack, who passed away from cancer, offering compassion and support during her illness.

During his years in Maine, David enjoyed motorcycle riding in his early years, relishing the freedom of the open road. In his mid to late years, he enjoyed golf, finding joy in sharing rounds primarily with Craig, creating lasting memories on the fairways. David’s engineering expertise shaped his family life, as he shared his knowledge with his children. He lent his skills to Audra’s automotive projects, assisting with car engine replacements due to his deep engineering experience, strengthening their bond through shared mechanical challenges. Similarly, David inspired Craig’s passion for computers, sparked by his own groundbreaking work programming the control systems for the BIW Portland Ship Repair Co.’s floating dry dock. His ability to connect his professional skills with his children’s interests left a lasting impact on their lives.

After graduation, David worked in road construction before joining Bath Iron Works (BIW), where he spent the majority of his career. At BIW, he contributed to the construction of notable Navy ships, including the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate launched in 1984, known for its resilience after striking a mine during Operation Earnest Will in 1988. He also worked on the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), the lead ship of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, commissioned in 1991, equipped with the Aegis Combat System and renowned for its multi-mission capabilities in anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare. David was deeply invested in the design of the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), a revolutionary stealth destroyer commissioned in 2016, featuring an all-electric propulsion system and advanced technologies for land attack and multi-mission roles.

A significant achievement in David’s career was his work on the BIW Portland Ship Repair Co.’s floating dry dock in Portland, Maine. Acquired in 1981–1982, this surplus WWII-era dock was purchased by the state of Maine from the U.S. Government and leased to BIW. David programmed the control systems for the dry dock, enabling precise lowering and raising operations critical to ship repair and maintenance, leaving a lasting impact on Maine’s maritime infrastructure.

In 2019, David and Helen moved from Maine to Fort Worth, Texas, to simplify their retirement and be closer to their younger grandchildren, son, Craig, and daughter, Audra. This move underscored David’s deep commitment to family, as he embraced his new community while cherishing the time spent with his loved ones in Texas.

David’s legacy is one of hard work, technical innovation, early athletic achievements, and family devotion. His contributions to naval engineering, shipbuilding, and his pride in sharing stories of his track and field days, combined with his love for golfing with Craig in Maine, his support for his children’s automotive and computer pursuits, his embrace of his granddaughter Sage’s early arrival, his and Helen’s support for Jack and Christy, and the love he shared with his family across Maine and Texas, will be cherished by all who knew him.

David’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those touched by his kindness, strength, and remarkable life.