Edward Anthony Darbonne

Edward Anthony Darbonne 10/20/1923 ~ 10/18/2010 RANCHO BERNARDO -- The Lord has welcomed Ed into his kingdom on Monday, October 18, 2010. He was born on Oct. 20, 1923 to Semonia (Durousseau) and Anthony Darbonne. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Greenway) Darbonne; his son, Brian A. and daughter-in-law, Lynne; his three grandchildren, two great- grandchildren, with a third on the way; his brothers and sisters, John, Phil, Annette and Joan; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; his parents, brothers and sisters, Mel, Fr. Dudley, Tessie and Alberta. Being one of the eldest children, he helped with his younger brothers and sisters while teaching his parents English after his parents' family emigrated from Quebec, Canada to the States. He was in the Army Air Corp. and served his country proudly in WWII. Sergeant Darbonne was in battle in England and France where he was injured while being trapped behind enemy lines in a foxhole next to a German occupied foxhole. He recovered in Switzerland before coming back to America. He received three military medals; European-African-Middle Eastern service medal, Good Conduct medal, Victory medal. He received the Marksman M1 medal, and he reached the rank of Tech Sergeant grade five. After the Army, he came home to New York City where he went to The College of Pharmacy at Columbia University and graduated at the age of 28. With his Pharmacy degree, he moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where he met and married his wife, Martha (Franta) Darbonne. The two of them, with their son Brian, lived in the Phoenix area while he started his career with the Thrifty Drug Store chain. He was a Pharmacist and then promoted to a District Manager in which he managed many of the stores in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. After the death of his wife in 1986, he moved to Rancho Bernardo, Calif., and married Barbara Greenway in 1989. Ed loved life, his family, and his extended family. He enjoyed his wife, Barbara's hobby of photography and was an excellent one man crew for her. Not having traveled previously, since being together, they traveled the country taking thousands of pictures and enjoying the many scenic and landscape photo opportunities. This made Ed very happy. He was a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather with a nickname of Pop and Grand Pop. His enjoyment of life was shared by his many friends of Phoenix, Ariz., the Rancho Bernardo Community and San Rafael Parish. A Mass celebrating his life will be held at San Rafael Catholic Church in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., Monday, October 25, 2010 at 10 a.m. A reception will be held at San Rafael Parish Hall immediately following the Mass. Inurnment will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, October 28, at St. Francis Cemetery in Phoenix, Ariz. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com