Owen J. "Duke" Darnell

A celebration of a life of service for retired U.S. Merchant Marine Capt. Owen "Duke" J. Darnell, 84, South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, who died Monday, July 11, 2005, at The Regency House, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at the chapel of Pinello Funeral Home, 1036 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach. A reception will follow. Born July 27, 1921, to Joseph and Ethel (Pender) Darnell, Capt. Darnell was born in Cripple Creek, Colo., and moved to this area in 1984 from New Orleans. Capt. Darnell's father had been a gold miner in Talkeetna, Alaska, before the young couple moved to Cripple Creek where his father supervised several silver mine operations. Owen was only 15 years old when his father died of silicosis. In 1994 when his wife of 40 years died, Capt. Darnell characteristically found a way to help others coping with similar problems and loss. He became a speaker advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers and wrote a booklet, "A Room Without Doors," and was published in 1996 by the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the American Alzheimer's Association. Capt. Darnell sailed in various unlicensed capacities on tankers, freighters and troop transports in North Africa and in the South Pacific. During World War II, he retired as a captain from the Merchant Marines. He then went to work with the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company and retired as a corporate level manager. He loved jazz, a good cup of coffee, big hugs, boxing, football, and poetry, but most of all, he loved people and helping people. He is survived by his companion, Patricia Bays; brother, Dr. Frank and Frances Darnell; three sisters, Minnie Perry, Mary Wank and Laura and Richard Murphy; 10 nieces and nephews, Sara McGee, Ann Hunter, Julia Archer and Sarah Robicheaux and Carol Guerrero-Murphy and Gail Coray, Richard Murphy, Joe Darnell, Al Darnell and Steven Owen. Capt. Darnell was predeceased by his wife, Esther, and his older brother, Richard. Capt. Darnell wishes were to be cremated and his ashes scattered in the Atlantic Ocean. Arrangements and services entrusted to Pinello Funeral Home, Daytona Beach.