Ralph C. Darrow

Ralph C. Darrow

Ralph C. Darrow, 82, of South Lincoln Street, Kent, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at his home.

He was born July 23, 1918, in Co lumbus Junc tion, Iowa, to C. Sumner and Muzetta (Sheetz) Darrow. He earned B.A. and M.A. de grees in journalism at the University of Iowa in 1948 and 1953. From 1941 to 1945, he was a nose gunner in a B-24 bomber in the Seventh Air Force during World War II; and in 1951 served at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.

Darrow worked for the Es therville, Iowa, Daily News; was public relations and publications director at the Firestone factory in Des Moines, Iowa; then he taught journalism and public relations at Kent State University from fall 1967, until retiring Aug. 1, 1988. He belonged to many clubs and professional organizations, includ ing the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations Society of America, Red Cross, Literacy Council of Summit County, Kent Historical Society, Kent Garden Club, the German Family Society, and the Kent Methodist Church choir. He re ceived the John S. Knight award in 1988, and served as chief judge of the Akron Beacon Journal Spelling Bee for 15 years.

Survivors include his wife, Fae (Kohls); daughters, Carolyn (Awald) Langenfeld of Akron, Jane Darrow of Olmstead Falls, and Mary (George) Curfman of Cuyahoga Falls; four grandchildren, Alexa Langenfeld, Nicole Langenfeld, George Curfman, and Samuel Curfman; brother, Gaylord Darrow of Savanna, Ill.; and sister, Marjorie Drake of Clinton, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Mary Gruver.

Calling hours will be held 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory in Kent, and one hour prior to the funeral services, which will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Luther an Church. Burial will be at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent. Memorials may be made to RMH Foundation Visiting Nurse and Hospice, P.O. Box 1204, Ravenna, Ohio 44266-1204.