J. Walter Darling

1933 - 2018

WOONSOCKET - J. Walter Darling, age 84, passed away in the Norwood Hospital on Sunday, November 18, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Wakefield, Massachusetts on December 15, 1933, he was the son of the late James Walter Darling and Margaret (Flanagan) Darling of Woonsocket, where he was raised and graduated from the Woonsocket High School with the Class of 1951. After graduation, Walter found work with Ellis and Gleason in Woonsocket while attending college.
Walter married his beloved wife, Jacqueline J. Latraverse, on May 15, 1954, and graduated from Providence College in 1955. Shortly after graduation, Walter entered the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School and was stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, until 1957.
Walter's early years of work took him and his family to Ohio, Maine and finally back to Norfolk, Massachusetts in 1964, where he and Jacqueline raised their five children. He was president of the TPA at the Freeman-Kennedy School in Norfolk and was selectman in Norfolk 1977-1979. He was an active member of St. Jude's Catholic Church where he taught CCD. He was employed by Amoco from 1964 until 1973, the year which he graduated from Suffolk Law School. While attending law school, Walter worked a full-time job and never missed a day of work. He passed the Massachusetts Bar exam immediately after graduation in 1973 and then entered private practice for many years. Walter also taught classes at Newbury College. He later worked as a corporate attorney for both the John Hancock Bank & Trust Co. and Grossman's Inc. until his retirement in 1994.
In his retirement, Walter and his wife moved to West Yarmouth on Cape Cod in 2002, where they enjoyed golfing at the Bass River Country Club and hosting family and friends. Walter was adventurous and had many interests in life which he shared with his family, including sailing, golfing, skiing, camping and family vacations. Walter and Jackie traveled to Europe extensively in their retirement and spent many winters in the Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie areas in Florida. Walter loved the arts, theater and music. He loved to read and spend time with his children and grandchildren and was a good friend to all.
He is survived by his beloved wife Jacqueline Darling of Foxboro, MA. They were married for 64 years.
He was the beloved father of five children: Jo-Ellen Darling (Michael Jendzeizyk) of Bethlehem, PA; Christopher Darling (Belkis Medina) of Easton, MA; Timothy Darling of Marietta, PA; Jeanne Darling (Mederic Ethier) of Mansfield, MA; and Jesse Darling (Brooke Adamson) of Attleboro, MA. Beloved grandfather of Jacqueline Healey of Walpole, MA; Cami Darling of Kelowna, British Columbia, Zach and Patrick Darling both of Burlington, VT, and Brendan Darling of Attleboro, MA; brother in law Paul A. Latraverse; nephews John D'Agostino and Paul Latraverse; and nieces Jacqueline Latraverse and Lisa Latraverse.
He was predeceased by his sister Teresa Darling D'Agostino.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Walter's Celebration of Life on Monday, November 26, 2018 from 3 to 7 PM and Tuesday, November 27, 2018 from 9 to 9:20 AM at the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Mary's Church, 58 Carpenter Street, Foxborough on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in the Norfolk Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations can be made in Walter's memory to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.