Dean J. Darrow

Dean J. Darrow Dean was born in Baraboo Wisconsin on February 2, 1921 and died suddenly and unexpectedly in Tacoma WA on January 2, 2009. He will be greatly missed by his son Tobin, daughter-in-law Sandra, and his granddaughter Tara. Dean was deeply intelligent, kind, unobtrusive, but fiercely independent. He was a loving father. He lived an interesting and varied life. He came of age during the Great Depression, which made an indelible mark upon him. During the second World War he worked on the Alaska Highway as a mechanic. He put himself through college, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1947. He worked for Ford Motor Co. before moving to San Diego to accept a position for General Dynamics. He worked on both the Atlas Missle program and the Apollo Space program in the late 50's and 60's. He personally met astronauts such as Neal Armstrong. After the conclusion of the Apollo program he worked as a permit man for Teledyne Exploration during the oil boom of the late 70's and early 80's. He dealt with a variety of people, from the backwoods of the Ozarks to the Freeman of Montana. In 1983 he retired to Tacoma and became active in the Elks Lodge. He loved to play Billiards and Bridge, and was well known in north Tacoma senior bridge circles. He died at the bridge table. Rest in peace Dad.