Ronald Ray Darnell, 94, of Morgantown, entered into Eternal Life Thursday, March 13, 2025. He was born January 27, 1931, in Bruceton Mills, to Marion and Thelma Darnell and was the youngest of their five children. He grew up in Pisgah, 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 two 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, Ohio; Iceland; Okinawa; Panama City, Fla.; Fairbanks, Alaska; 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 Florida 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 Florida, 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 West Virginia. 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). He has 16 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and a few great-great- grandchildren.
His eldest son, Warren Darnell, predeceased him February 14, 2025; and his daughter, Tena, predeceased him December 15, 2024. He was also predeceased by his parents, Marion and Thelma Darnell; his sister, Elsie Simpson; and his brothers, Edwin Darnell, Vernon Darnell and Darrell Darnell.
Services will be held in Pisgah United Methodist Church, 193 Laurel Run-Pisgah Road, Bruceton Mills, Monday, March 24, with viewing at 12 p.m. and his funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Pisgah, with graveside military rites accorded by Greene County Honor Guard as well as active members of the U.S. Air Force.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home, Inc., 324 Mt. Morris Road, P.O. Box 478, Mt. Morris, PA 15349, Shane M. Ayers, director.
As Ron spent the last six years of his life on dialysis, charitable contribution are requested to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org, in lieu of flowers.
Condolences and photos can be shared at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com
