Kermit Richard Darr
Kermit Richard Darr, age 89, of Winchester, Tennessee departed this life on July 31, 2013 at St. Thomas Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was born on March 31, 1924 in New Bedford, Ohio to the late Floyd and Celesta (Levengood) Darr.
Kermit was a 1942 graduate of Baltic High School and was a member of the United States Air Force during World War II from 1943 to 1946, serving as a flight engineer on the B-29. Following military service, he started in the Rockwell Corporation as a tool-maker in Newark, Ohio. He achieved a rapid rise within the company to general foreman, and then assistant general manager. This led to a transfer to the Winchester, Kentucky plant as assistant general manager, and then to the Tilbury, Ontario as the general plant manager. His final years with Rockwell Corporation were spent in Troy, Michigan, where he retired in 1982 after 31 years.
In addition to his career, Kermit was passionate about aviation and music. He owned several private planes and actively flew until the 1980’s. His love for music filled his home, and he even formed his own 13-piece orchestra during the “Big Band” era called the Dick Darr Orchestra.
Kermit is survived by his wife of 67 years, Claudia Jevene (Lockard) Darr; his four children, Carol Jo Clark of Kansas City, Missouri, Richard (Leeanne) Darr of Nashville, Tennessee, Timothy (Michelle) Darr of Hillsboro, Tennessee and Michael (Julie) Darr of Celebration, Florida; eight grandchildren, Christy (Chad) Pulley, Evan Darr, Richard (Jini) Darr, David (Angie) Darr, Andrew (Mary) Darr, Spencer Darr, Cameron Darr and Alexandria Jevene Darr; two step grandchildren, Patricia (Keith) Neal and David (Belinda) Grant; four great-grandchildren, Meryn Pulley, Chase Pulley, Issak Darr, Jack Darr; and four step great-grandchildren, Estella Thornton, Karly Neal, Kirsten Neal, Neyland Grant and Norah Grant.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday August 6, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at The Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main St., Coshocton with Lloyd Tenney officiating. Friends may call on Monday August 5, 2013 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 P.M. Interment will follow the funeral services on Tuesday in West Lawn Cemetery, Newcomerstown, where the Newcomerstown Veterans Council will be performing military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. An online memorial is located at www.themillerfuneralhome.com .
Category: Obituaries
