David Ronald Darge

1926 - 2017

David Ronald Darge passed away Nov. 14, 2017, in Cary, North Carolina.
David was born on Feb. 25, 1926, to Fred and Eleanor Darge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joining the U.S. Marines at age 16, he served in the Korean War and World War II where he was a top turret gunner on a B-25. After serving six years, he met Helen Lang, of Bronx, New York, also in the Marines in El Toro, California. They married shortly after, leaving the Marines, returning to the Northeast for the next 40 years in Connecticut, New Jersey, Red Hook, N.Y. and Beacon, N.Y. He was a lifelong college student, attending colleges in Montana, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Dave was a great outdoors lover. He shared his love of his family Montana land with his son and grandsons, taking each on primitive cross-country trips, including dirt bike riding with antelope. He was his own person - fearless, non-conformist, genius, inventor, artist. Dave loved tinkering and restoring his Porsche, golf, fishing, hunting, biking, jerry-rigging. His father Fred Darge, is a well-known artist whose western art recorded the Big Bend area of West Texas and New Mexico in a bygone era from the 1920s to 1970s.
Dave's working career consisted of manufacturing engineering, and was plant manager at companies such as Red Devil. After retiring from New York State as deputy superintendent at Fishkill correctional facility, they relocated to St. Augustine. They enjoyed golf, the Florida climate and coast, traveling and many good friends in the St. Augustine Shores. Dave and Helen moved to Cary, N.C. four years ago, near their oldest daughter and have resided at the cottages in Woodland Terrace.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Darge; two daughters, Christine Heib, of North Carolina, and Denise Girardi, of California; son, Ron Darge, of Connecticut. He is also survived by four grandsons, Bill and Adam Metzger and Ryan and Jason Darge; three granddaughters, Andrea Giambruno-Shockney, Lisa and Carolyn Girardi; and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Dave with a toast to celebrate his life, and maybe some chocolate. Memorial service to be held at Woodland Terrace in Cary on Dec 2, at 10 a.m.