John E. Darnell

John E. "Jack" Darnell, Jr., retired banker and community leader, passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 89. Born in Columbia, Missouri, the son of the late J. E. and Alma Lee Myers Darnell, he moved with his family to Owensboro in 1925. He graduated from Owensboro High School in 1939 and attended Ohio State University until his enlistment in the United States Army where he was commissioned an infantry second lieutenant. After transferring to the Army Air Corps, he became qualified as a bombardier and flew 21 combat missions over Germany on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Following the war he served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Darnell joined the Owensboro National Bank in 1946, where he served for more than 50 years in positions including President, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. He attended graduate banking schools at The University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University and Harvard University. Mr. Darnell served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and as chairman of the Kentucky Bankers Association.
Mr. Darnell's community involvement included serving as president of the Jaycee's in which capacity he chaired the acquisition, development, and operation of Hillcrest Golf Course which was later turned over to the City of Owensboro. He was a member and past president of the Owensboro Rotary Club, a former member of the Board of Trustees of Kentucky Wesleyan College, former Chairman of the Mercy Hospital Advisory Board, and former Chairman of the board of the Sisters of Mercy in Cincinnati. Mr. Darnell was a member of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church for more than 70 years.
Surviving Mr. Darnell are his wife of 64 years, Marybelle Kennedy Darnell; his son, John E. Darnell, III and his wife Janet, of Lexington; his daughter, Peggy Gardner and her husband Steve, of Owensboro; and his only grandson, Stephen Gardner of Owensboro.
The funeral service for Mr. Darnell will be at 12:00 noon Saturday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where friends may call from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. Friday and after 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Private burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the memorial fund of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church or the charity of one's choice.