Darrell Dwayne "Oz" Oswald

Darrell Dwayne Oswald, affectionately known as Oz, age 63, of Patmos, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on November 14, 2024. Darrell was born on October 5, 1961, in Penn Yan, New York, to his loving parents, Dwayne and Marilyn Oswald. He was preceded in death by his father, Dwayne Oswald, and his mother, Marilyn Oswald. He was also preceded in death by Debra Burnham, the mother of his daughter Deanna Simpson.
He is survived by his daughters, Deanna (Ricky) Simpson of Penn Yan, New York, and Jamie (Cody) Main of Las Vegas, Nevada; his grandchildren, Riddick and Ren Simpson; three sisters, Sue (Gerry) Sellers, Pam (Don) Osgood, and Glenda (Chris) Flynn; one brother, Henry Oswald; and several nieces and nephews. Darrell also leaves behind his loyal fur baby, Harley, along with a host of friends.
Darrell was of the Christian faith and had been attending Hope Methodist Church. He was baptized in 1992 at Landmark Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Arkansas, by Brother Lynn Baxter.
His journey in life brought him to Arkansas from New York, where he had made his home for the past 22 years.
Darrell proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 21 years, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant (E7) and becoming a paratrooper in 1998. His service included deployments to Desert Storm, Desert Fox, and Mogadishu, Somalia. He was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in Wrightstown, New Jersey; Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas; and Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. During his service, he gained many military brothers and sisters, many of whom he considered extended family and kept in touch with after his retirement. In fact, he hosted social events for his military friends at his farm for the past three years.
Oz was a true people person-he never met a stranger. Whether at a social gathering or just out in the community, he had a gift for making friends and making others laugh. He was very physically active and loved riding motorcycles or enjoying mud-riding with his friends.
Many did not know, but Oz was a gifted woodworker, known for crafting beautiful, handcrafted furniture, market items for sale, and home construction projects.
Hunting and fishing were among Oz's greatest passions. His favorite pastime was duck hunting, a tradition he enjoyed for many years. He was a member of Yellow Creek in McNab, Arkansas, where he harvested many ducks over his lifetime. His faithful duck companions, Yankee and Trooper, were always by his side.
Oz had an entrepreneurial spirit. After retiring from the Air Force, he built a successful lawn care business from the ground up, establishing a reputation for hard work and reliability. Later, he expanded into farming, raising cattle and running a successful poultry business.
Oz cherished his role as Pepaw to his grandsons, Riddick and Ren. He loved showing the boys around the farm, introducing them to the cows, chickens, and giving them rides on the tractor and horse-moments that will always be remembered by his family.
For the last several years, Oz has been fortunate to have his sister Sue, her husband Gerry, and his brother Henry to help him maintain the farm. He loved the time spent with his siblings. It was a special time for them to reconnect their lives together.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Hope Methodist Church, with Ben Harper officiating. All are welcome to celebrate Darrell's life and the many ways he touched the lives of those around him. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with refreshments available as well.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to The Call (Hempstead and Nevada County) P.O. Box 1058 Hope, Arkansas, 71801 or Disabled American Veterans at https://www.dav.org/