Ronald Ray Darnell

Ronald Ray Darnell, 94, of Morgantown, WV, entered into Eternal Life on Thursday, March 13, 2025. He was born in Bruceton Mills, WV on January 27, 1931, to Marion and Thelma Darnell and was the youngest of their five children. He grew up in Pisgah, WV, where he lived until he was drafted into the United States Air Force, which he served for 20 years. In 1970, he relocated to Central Florida with his family and thereafter, spent 2 years in Vietnam during the war. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant by the time he retired from the Air Force in 1972. During his military career, he was stationed in Columbus, OH, Iceland, Okinawa, Panama City, FL, Fairbanks, AK, and Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. After retiring from the military, he was the Chief Building Inspector for the City of Kissimmee in FL for many years until he retired again. He and his wife, Carol, spent their retirement years traveling around the country and also took a trip to Israel with their church, where he was baptized in the Jordan River. They both enjoyed several cruises as well. During his retirement, Ron also was a volunteer with Osceola Regional Medical Center in FL, where he drove a golf cart in the parking lot to pick up people from their cars and take them to the entrance of the hospital. He played golf almost every weekend and enjoyed fishing when he wasn’t golfing. After his wife, Carol, passed away in March 2021, he relocated back to Morgantown in December 2023, to live his remaining time on earth in his home state, where he was surrounded by many family members that visited him often. He loved taking drives to Pisgah to reminisce about the good old days of growing up there and all the people he knew, and driving to the top of any mountain to admire the view. He sure loved the mountains of WV. He was very happy to be home again.

Ron is survived by six of his eight children, Sherrie Temple (Rick, deceased); Shelia Morgan (Ken); Mike Darnell (Julie); Joann Darnell; David Darnell (Kim LeMay); and Tom Darnell (Bridget). His eldest son, Warren Darnell, predeceased him on February 14, 2025, and his daughter Tena predeceased him on December 15, 2024. He is also predeceased by his parents, Marion and Thelma Darnell; his first wife Ieda Messenger Darnell, his sister, Elsie Simpson; and his brothers Edwin Darnell, Vernon Darnell and Darrell Darnell. He has 16 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, and a few great-great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Pisgah United Methodist Church, 193 Laurel Run-Pisgah Road, Bruceton Mills, WV on Monday, March 24, 2025, with viewing at 12:00 PM and his funeral service at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Pisgah. Graveside Military rites to be accorded by Greene County Honor Guard as well as active members of the US Air Force. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home, Inc. 324 Mt. Morris Rd., P.O. Box 478, Mt. Morris, PA 15349 Shane M. Ayers-Director. As Ron spent the last 6 years of his life on dialysis, you may make a charitable contribution to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org in lieu of flowers. Condolences and pics can be shared online at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com