Henry Townsend Darlington

Henry (Hank) Townsend Darlington passed away on September 1, 2024 at age 98. He was born in East Lansing, Michigan on August 28, 1926 to Henry T. and Beulah Darlington. He is survived by his two children, Carol Ross (married to Joe), and Bill Darlington (married to Ruth). He was called “Grandpa” and is survived by his four grandchildren and his five great grandchildren. Grandchildren- Elizabeth Darlington and Kelsey Johnson (married to Timothy), Joseph Ross (married to Paulina), and Bethany Rieck (married to Jordan). Great grandchildren are Isaiah, Liliana and Isabella Rieck and Anna and Daniel Ross. Hank took a keen interest in his immediate and extended family.

At an early age he was drawn to radio and all things electrical. In high school, he built radios and televisions and ran sound and motion picture systems at school events.

Hank enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 18, 1944 and entered the electronic technician school. At the conclusion of boot camp he transferred to pre-radio school in Chicago. After the Navy, Hank attended Michigan State, majoring in Physics. He worked at the Michigan State radio station. He eventually became an electrical engineer. Early jobs were with the United States Rubber Company and the General Electric Company, which eventually led him to the Long Beach Navy Shipyard in Long Beach, CA. Hank met Helen Belden in a church singles group and they married on Valentines Day, 1953. They were married for 58 years, until she passed away in 2011.

From 1963 to 1968 Hank worked for North American Aviation/Rockwell on the Apollo Spacecraft project in their test and operations. He led a group of 130 engineers and technicians responsible for final factory testing of all telecommunications systems aboard the spacecraft.

Following the Apollo Project, Hank was able to apply similar technology to centralized monitoring and control of water and electric utility transmission systems. He did consulting for the next 25 years with utilities in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, and Australia.

When Hank retired he took an interest in genealogy work and became a member of Sertoma International and the Elks Club. Hank and Helen joined Trinity United Presbyterian Church; he enjoyed friendships and leadership roles in King’s Class and participated in the Audio/Visual ministry and set up sound and video systems at the church. He mentored high school seniors interested in engineering, taught English as a second language and tutored grade school students. He attended a men’s Bible study for many years. Hank and Helen square danced for over 25 years and traveled extensively.

Hank’s favorite childhood memories were made at Glen Lake, Michigan. A family cottage was built there in 1926. Hank learned to walk at the cottage and spent summers there with his three siblings, exploring and enjoying the beauty of the area. The cottage is still in the family and has created many family memories.

Hank spent his last years in the Town and Country Independent Living Center and Grace Gardens Memory Care Center in Santa Ana, CA where he made many friends.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Orange County Rescue Mission, or Trinity Presbyterian Church.

https://www.rescuemission.org/ https://trinityconnection.com/

A Memorial Service and reception are scheduled for 11:00 am, Friday, October 11 at Trinity Presbyterian Church (13992 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705)