Darrell W. Enloe

Darrell Wayne Enloe, 76, of Wright City Missouri, went to join Jesus on November 14, 2024, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He lived with his sister, Audrey Gooch and husband, Tom at 205 Fox Run Ct., Wright City, MO 63390.
Darrell taught himself how to play the guitar while in the Army. He was an avid radio-controlled model airplane fan and built many planes. He remained active in his fine woodworking hobby until a few days before his demise. Many people have been blessed with his beautiful projects.
Darrell was born on August 22, 1947, to Virgil Carl and Harriett (Nee Baker) Enloe in Lincoln, Illinois. He grew up and labored on the family farm in Sweetwater, Illinois and attended Greenview schools.
He began an electronics career in high school working part-time for Thayer Two-Way Radio in Greenview and continued full time after graduating high school in 1965. He worked on two-way radios as well as installing towers with 120 feet being the largest.
He was inducted into the U. S. Army in 1966 and was an Honor Graduate, Field Radio Mechanic School in Fort Knox, KY. This education bought him a ticket to Vietnam his last 9 months with the 14th Engineer Battalion and he saw action as a Radio Operator. He came home with Vietnam dirt still on his boots and was a proud veteran the remainder of his life.
He recounted to me that he was asleep in his top bunk on one occasion when a mortar hit near them. He didn't have time to react because his C. O. grabbed him from the bunk below and threw him to the floor, The C.O. said "Sorry, but I can't lose you because then I have no radio contact." I guess you have a feeling of worth when someone says that.
He didn't talk much about the war. Audrey found a newspaper clipping from the Greenview Review that stated on his 23rd day in Vietnam three mortar rounds hit an ammunition dump and the from it destroyed their mess hall, supply room, one bunker, four trucks and partially damaged all other buildings. He was on guard duty at the air strip one mile away. There were no casualties.
Upon separation from the Army he attended S. I. U. Carbondale, IL for two and a half years in the Engineering Technology program. He worked in Birmingham, Al and Atlanta, Ga as well as Sangamon State University, IL as Senior Electronics Technician. He also experienced factory line work for MERCEDES-BENZ in Vance, AL.
Darrell led an interesting life as a sound man for a touring group known as The Tongue Snatchers Revue, auto mechanic, audio technician and self-employed tower man after the Easter ice storm of 1978. He was co-owner of D & J Electronics in Springfield, IL. He finished his career in Alabama restoring power to many after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
He was briefly married to Gurtha (Sam) Enloe and had no children.
Darrel was preceded in joining the LORD: Mother & Father, Virgil and Harriett Enloe and sister, Arlene Kay Earl, Kay's husband, To Earl as well as cousins Rick Enloe of Springfield MO, Terry Baker of Peoria, Il, Dixie (Baker) Biggs of Peoria, IL, Linda (Baker)Welman of Tuscan, Arizona and Andrew Buckles of Mt Pulaski, IL..
He is survived by his sister, Audrey (husband Tom) Gooch of Wright City, Missouri, and brothers Wade Douglas Enloe and Warren Eugen Enloe of Rice Texas and many loving nieces and nephews and cousins.
Darrell was cremated at Pitman Funeral Home, Wentzville, MO and his ashes will be scattered in Texas. He requested no service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project, Donor Care Center, PO Box 758541, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8541 or at Woundedwarriorproject.org, an organization Darrell felt strongly about.
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