Darland, Donald 'Ding' Delmar 1905-2002

DARLAND, MCCLURE, LOCKARD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/16/2018 at 16:30:54

The Montezuma (IA) Republican
March 6, 2002

DONALD 'DING' DARLAND, 96

Donald 'Ding' Delmar Darland, 96, of Montezuma, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Montezuma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Graveside services were Monday, March 4, at the Masonic-IOOF Cemetery in Montezuma with Wes Fahlenkamp officiating. Military rites were performed by members of Blakely-Stevens American Legion Post No. 169 of Montezuma.

Donald was born March 30, 1905 near Barnes City, to Fred and Zella Darland. He attended schools in Barnes City and Montezuma. He was a printer on the staff of The Montezuma Republican for about 16 years.

On July 26, 1941, he married Bernice McClure in Lancaster, Mo. They settled in Eldora, where he was an instructor in the printing department at the State Training School for Boys.

In May 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served as a crew chief and instructor for the Air Service Command.

Following his discharge in June 1945, the couple moved to Rantoul, Ill., and he was an instructor at Chanute Field Air Base. In 1965, they moved to Lancaster, Calif.

He returned to the Montezuma area in the late 1980s.

Don was a Mason and member of the Lafayette Lodge No. 52 AF and AM in Montezuma, where he served as Worshipful Master for a short time. He also belonged to the Lutheran Church.

He is survived by two brothers, Calvin of Des Moines and Carl of Oskaloosa; a grandson, and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice; two brothers, Emil and Adrian; a sister, Doris Lockard; a son, Laverne; and a grandson.