Donald P Darnell

Donald Pearson Darnell died peacefully in the presence of his family on December 25th, 2018. Don was born April 4th, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, St Albans, New York, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York where he received an A. B. Degree and University of Maryland where he earned a Masters Degree. He was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy on June 2nd, 1950 and served in four ships, USS ELDORADO (AGC-11), USS TELFAIR (APA-210), USS NORFOLK (EDL-1), USS MCGOWAN (DD-678) and as the Assistant United States Naval Attache in Istanbul, Turkey before his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander in June, 1970. He served two tours in Vietnam and one in Korea. A loving and beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend, Don was a proud retired veteran of the United States Navy and a respected history teacher at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Virginia for 23 years. Don was predeceased by his first wife of 42 years, Elaine Mitchell. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Lois Petras, children David (Joleen), Deborah (Tim) and Donald Jr, (Joanne), six grandchildren Jennifer (Josh), John, Andrew, Samuel, Claire and Matthew, one great grand child Patrick, and his sister Lois Darnell Weiszmiller. He is also survived by an extended group including his blended family with Lois and many cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends that he considered his clan.