Dr. Bob Darrell

Chickford Bobbiee (Bob) Darrell was born October 29, 1934, in New York, New York, the son of Chickford Darrell and Dorothy Platte Darrell. He was eldest of five children, including brothers Patrick and Dennis and sisters Michael and Carol. The family lived in Monterey, California; Mexico City, Mexico; and Dallas, Texas; Bob graduated from North Dallas High School in 1952 where he was a member of the track and baseball teams.

After high school, Bob embarked on an extensive academic career. Through a combination of full-time and part-time studies, he earned an A. A. in English from Lon Morris College (1954), a B. A. in English from Hendrix College (1956), an M. Div. from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (1959), an M. Ed. from New York University (1965), and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University (1976).

Following graduation from SMU, Bob worked as a minister on staff at First Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, and briefly pastored a Methodist church in Morristown, New Jersey, while teaching at Drew University. In 1966 he and his family moved to Abilene, Texas, where he began a full-time teaching position at McMurry College.

In 1969, Bob and three other professors left Abilene for Owensboro to join the faculty of Kentucky Wesleyan College. There Bob taught Freshman Writing, Technical Writing, and various other courses in English literature until his retirement in 2000 as a tenured Professor of English. As both professor at Kentucky Wesleyan and member of the Owensboro community, Bob's influence was extensive. For example, Bob

• created the Freshman Writing Workshop Program which earned him and Kentucky Wesleyan College national recognition
• founded KWC's Plus Center in the late 70's (through a Federal Title III Grant) which functionally provided additional learning/study support to students, and which was eventually named in his honor
• participated as a founding Board member and emeritus Board member of Riverpark Center
• served as founding Board member and president of Owensboro Symphony Orchestra
• was one of the founders and chair of the Program Committee for Leadership Owensboro
• helped to open the Owensboro Community College
• served as Parliamentarian for Owensboro City Commission
• served as a longtime member of the Investigators Club and Daedalus Discussion Group
• was a 50th Anniversary Honorary Inductee in the Order of Oak & Ivy in 2004

In addition, Bob influenced the lives of many Kentucky Wesleyan students who later contributed significantly in various fields throughout Kentucky and the U.S.

Bob is survived by four children, Robert Darrell (Tonisha) of Newport News VA, Barton Darrell of Bowling Green KY, Bracken Darrell (Judith) of Atherton CA, and Shelley Chatfield of Lexington KY; ten grandchildren, Robert Darrell II (Kelly) of Norfolk VA, Aaron Darrell (Carlyn) of Boston MA, Anderson Darrell of Encinitas CA, Blair Darrell of New York NY, Lloyd Chatfield III of Lexington KY, Jake Chatfield of Lexington KY, Lauren Chatfield of Lexington KY, Michael Darrell-Hicks of Bowling Green KY, Conner Darrell of Atherton CA, and DeShawn Powell of Newport News VA; and two great-grandchildren, Arlo Darrell of Boston MA and Samsara Darrell of Norfolk VA.

The funeral service for Dr. Bob Darrell will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where the family will receive friends from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday and from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Committal at Owensboro Memorial Gardens will be private. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Kentucky Wesleyan College, The RiverPark Center, or the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Memories and messages of condolence for the family of Dr. Bob Darrell may be shared at www.glenncares.com.