Darlene (Patterson) JENNINGS

JENNINGS, PATTERSON, GRIMES, WACHENHEIM, PFLAUM, BLACKABY, MANNING, COLBERT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/25/2009 at 01:23:50

Darlene Patterson Jennings, 92, died Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Emeritus at Urbandale. Darlene was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Lovillia, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Blanche (Grimes) Patterson. She was the eldest of 13 children. Darlene is survived by four sisters, Virginia Wachenheim, Belmond, Iowa, Blanche Pflaum, Sterling Heights, Mich., Fran Blackaby, Roseville, Mich., and Pat (husband Jim) Powers, Muscatine, Iowa; a brother, Frank (wife Shirley) Patterson, Eagle Grove, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Gert Patterson, Chariton, Iowa, and Janet Patterson, Santa Barbara, Calif.; brother-in- law, Ray (wife Gail) Jennings, Des Moines, Iowa, and a plethora of nieces and nephews. As a graduate of Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, Darlene was employed by K.L. Crittenden of Traveler's Mutual Insurance Company as his executive secretary. During this time, Darlene met William Homer Jennings of Marshalltown, Iowa. They were married Sept. 22, 1940. Darlene and Homer were blessed with three children, two sons, W. Homer Jennings Jr. and wife Lynn of Tonganoxie, Kan., Carl Jennings and wife Pat of Virginia Beach, Va., and daughter, Joyce Manning and husband Kelley of Des Moines. Also left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren, Stacee Jennings of Overland Park, Kan., Carl Jennings Jr. and his wife Crystal and Cindie Colbert and husband Rick and children Jessica and Cody of Virginia Beach, and Bryan Manning and wife Jody and children Aidan and Ashlyn of Johnston, Iowa, and Kelsey Manning of Des Moines. Darlene led an active life. She was proud of her affiliation with the DAR, Presbyterian Women's Circles and serving many years as her children's scout leader. Her favorite pastimes were gardening, needlepoint, reading and crossword puzzles. She was an accomplished seamstress. After Homer's retirement from I.B.M., they enjoyed extensive travel, visiting family and friends while collecting family history. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Fielding Funeral Home, Chariton. Celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at First Presbyterian Church, Chariton. After the service, Darlene will be interred with her beloved husband, W. Homer Jennings, at Bethel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, Daughters of the American Revolution or the charity of the donor's choice.

Kansas City Star
October 21, 2009