Robert Fulton Darden Jr.

After a valiant battle with Parkinson's, retired Col. Robert Fulton Darden Jr., USAF, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend Road. A memorial service has been set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, also at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel, with retired Capt. Ed Carter officiating.

Robert was born Dec. 19, 1929, in Beaumont, Texas, the son of Robert F. Darden and Esther Jane (Perkins) Darden, both of Beaumont. He attended elementary and junior high in Beaumont, high school at the Little Outfit (LO), a ranch school located 18 miles from Patagonia, Ariz., and Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, graduating at the age of 16 in 1946.

He entered Lamar College and in 1950, met Jo Ann Owens, a 1949 graduate from Beaumont's French High School. She became the love of his life. Robert graduated from Lamar College in 1951 and Jo Ann in 1953. He later received a B.G.E. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1962 and an M.Ed. in 1974 from the American University in Washington, D.C.

Robert entered the U.S. Air Force's Aviation Cadet Program in April of 1952 (Class 53-C) at Hondo Air Base, Texas. He flew the North American AT-6G "Texan." He completed Basic Training in November of 1952 and was sent to Advanced Training at Reese AFB, near Lubbock. There he trained in the North American AT-6E and TB-25. Robert was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and given his USAF Pilot's silver wings on May 1, 1953.

On "Cinco de Mayo" in 1953, (5/5/53), Robert and Jo Ann Owens were married in the North End Methodist Church of Beaumont, Texas. They enjoyed a wonderful 58 years, less 13 days, together. Jo Ann went to be with our Lord on April 21, 2011.

Their first duty station was Smoky Hill AFB, located just south of Salina, Kan. It was an old, war-weary, WW II B-24 training base and had just been reactivated the day Robert and Jo Ann arrived May 15, 1953. Robert was assigned to the 25th Bombardment Squadron of the 40th Bomb, with additional duty as Squadron P.E. (Personal Equipment) Officer.

Robert's combat aircrew was assigned the famous Korean War B-29, nicknamed Command Decision. It flew 121 combat missions over North Korea, had 153 individually patched bullet holes in it and it was the only B-29 "Ace" of the war. Decision's gunners had shot down five MIG-21s. It is now a featured artifact in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

The couple had three children, Robert III (1954), Steve (1956) and Danni (1957), all born in Salina. In the summer of 1958, Robert volunteered to attend Boeing B-52D School and accept a transfer to Fairchild AFB, just west of Spokane, Wash. He was assigned to the 325th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Bombardment Wing. While flying the new B-52D, his crew was credited with pioneering the refueling techniques with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, the MITO (Minimum Interval Take Off), and the Airborne Alert (a 25-hour Mission carrying eight hydrogen bombs).

During this time, Robert became interested in staff work and was asked to take the Wing Headquarter positions of Wing Ground Training Officer, B-52D Scheduling Officer, and Chief, Current Operations.

Robert was honored by being selected to attend the Air University's Air Command and Staff College (AC&SC) at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala. He had a wonderful year, learned a lot, flew the delightful Cessna U-3A, and earned a MS&T. During that year, he landed on the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Lexington, spent the night on board and took off the next morning. He also went to Fort Rucker, Ala., and flew a Huey helicopter and attacked a derelict tank on the firing range.

After graduating from AC&SC, Robert was assigned to Itazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Japan. He was a major by then and was assigned to be the Executive Officer for the Western Air Defense Sector, however, his commander, a colonel, had chronic heart trouble, so Robert ended up serving as Commander of the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS).

Robert's next assignment was to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, located in Udon Thani, Thailand.He was assigned to 7th/13th Air Force headquarters as the Chief, Operations Support Branch under the Director of Operations. Robert was promoted to lieutenant colonel at Udorn, and from henceforth was known by family and friends as "the Colonel."

Lt. Col. Darden was selected by the Air Force Inspector General in Washington, D.C., when his year in Thailand concluded. He went to the Pentagon as the TIG's (The Inspector General) Chief for Inspection and Safety. He was privileged to work with B/General Chuck Yeager as the TIG's Chief of Safety. It was a very interesting five years. Robert was assigned to fly the Convair T-29s and C-131s out of Andrews AFB, Md. While at the Pentagon, Robert was promoted to Full Colonel.

The Colonel was next given command of the Air Force's Civil Engineering School when he completed his five-year Pentagon tour. He spent five years in command of the Civil Engineering School at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. He enjoyed every minute of it. He retired Oct. 1, 1981, with 31 years, one month and 26 days military service.

The Colonel had two degrees in education and had always planned to use them. The Director of Education at Sheppard AFB, Elbert Pickel, asked the Colonel to apply to teach a "Western Civilization" course for Wayland Baptist University. He did and did so well he was asked to teach two classes each semester. He had about 60 students in each class. Later, he was asked to also teach a course in "State and Federal Government." He did this also and continued teaching for Wayland for six years. He later taught Education courses for two years for McLennan Community College and Science for 11 years for Waco ISD.

Preceding the Colonel in death were his lovely wife, Jo Ann Owens Darden; his parents, Robert F. and Esther Jane (Perkins) Darden; and his sister and brother-in-law, Peggy Sue (Darden) Brammer and Chalmus A. Brammer of Beaumont.

He is survived by his sons, Robert F. Darden III and wife, Mary, of San Antonio, and Steven L. Darden and wife, Ellen, of Blacksburg, Va.; daughter, Danni L. Mayfield III and husband, Daniel, of Waco; and by grandchildren, Robert Van Darden, Matthew S. Grayson, Sydney E. Darden, Wynne M. Darden, Daniel E. Mayfield IV, Daniel L. Barkley, and Rachel A. Menjivar and her husband, Mark; along with great-grandchildren, Asa and Eilan Menjivar. Also surviving the Colonel is his faithful Malamute companion, Millie T.

Many thanks are graciously extended to Hillcrest's Midway Clinic's Doctor John D. Kosarek for treatment of Colonel Darden and his family, performing above and beyond the call of duty, for more than 30 years. The Colonel thanks the good Lord for the circumstances that made Dr. John his family doctor.

The Colonel also would like to thank the Bluebonnet Hospice nurses that provided such splendid service. Thanks to Jenny, Nikki, and Jake, a dedicated trio that went the extra mile. Finally, the Home Instead Caregivers all deserve a "well done." So here it is to Tressy, Marva, Diana, Alice, and Lois.

The Colonel praises and thanks God for loving him unconditionally and giving him undeserved mercy. He is grateful that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whomsoever believes in him shall not perish, but have ever lasting life. God did it all. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdomÉÉ" Proverbs 7-1. Colonel Darden praises and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and seeks to love him with all his heart.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Fuzzy Friends Rescue.

Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online Guest Book at www.LakeShoreFuneralHome.com.

December 19, 1929 - December 28, 2011

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