RICHARD A. DARDEN SR.
Died Nov. 5, 2016
Richard Arlen Darden Sr., 83, Wilson, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016.
The funeral service will be Tuesday 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Wilson, immediately followed by visitation at the church. Burial will take place in Eureka Cemetery of Eureka at 3:30 p.m.
Born in Wayne County in 1933, Richard was the son of Nathan Julius and Ruby Woodle Darden.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Pittman Darden; daughter, Dee Darden Warrick and husband, Tommy, of Emerald Isle; son, Richard A. Darden Jr. and wife, Angela, of Goldsboro; brother, William L. Darden of Faro; grandchildren, Garret Darden Warrick, Mallory Pittman Warrick, Hannah Marie Darden and Kaylin Rebekah Darden; sisters-in-law, Peggy Pittman Gore of Wilmington and Mary Pittman McMillan and husband, Gary, of Clinton; six nieces; and one nephew.
Richard was an honor graduate in the 1951 class of Eureka High School.
He grew up on the family farm in Faro, continued farming after graduation, and operated Darden-Scott General Merchandise during which time he began his affiliation with Royster Fertilizer Co. in the late 1960s, retiring with the company in 1994 as a senior vice-president.
He served as president, and was a lifetime member of the North Carolina Plant Food Association.
He was appointed to the Board of Directors of BB&T in Fremont, retiring as chairman.
Richard was a person of service to his church, community and his country. He devoted many hours to both Yelverton and First United Methodist Churches, Eureka Ruritan Club, Charles B. Aycock Booster Club and Eureka Town Board, and served in the United States Army Infantry from 1956 to 1958.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1423, Wilson, N.C., 27894, or AseraCare Hospice, 112 W. Firetower Road, Winterville, N.C., 28590.
Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive North, Wilson, 252-237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 6, 2016 8:32 AM