John Wallace Darden

John Wallace Darden, age 82, of Springfield, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Golden Living Center in Springfield. Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11am in the Chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home with burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery with Chris Jircitano, Andrew Shipley, Jerry Farmer, Bobby Payne, Jimmy Oliver, Jeff Walker, Winn Woodard and Joe White serving as pallbears. Honorary pallbearers are Andrew Wallace Shipley, Jonathon Anthony Jircitano, Matthew Wallace Shipley, Lyndon Nelse England, Samantha Jane England, Lucas Scott Morton, Annette Fowler, JoEllen Fowler, Greg Fowler, Bob Woodard, Vince Bagwell, Thurman Gregg, Tommy Powell, Dale Quillen, Clyde Richert, III, Jim Balthrop, Bobby DeBerry, Denny Choate, Gary DiOrio, The Donkin Family, Scott Morton, Kenneth Shipley, Ronnie England, Bob Bell, the Springfield High School Class of 1950, the Members of the Robertson County Commission and the Golfers and Members of the Springfield Country Club. Visitation with the family will be on July 1, 2014 from 3 – 8 pm, then again on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 from 9am until the time of service. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann MacCluney Darden; daughters, Donna Jo Darden Morton, Ann Bruce Darden (Chris) Jircitano, Mary Wallace Darden, Jane Elizabeth Darden; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-great children. John Wallace Darden was born to Wallace Fiser and Josephine White Darden on January 20th 1932 in Springfield TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Wilber White Darden and sister Ruby Katherine Darden. He grew up on the Darden family farm which had been in the family for 4 generations. Mr. Darden graduated from Springfield High School and served as class president his senior year. He participated in FFA and was state president of the 4-H club where he excelled in public speaking. He participated in debate teams during high school and went on to become a public servant and county commissioner for the 11th district in Robertson County for 12 years. Within the county commission he chaired Building and Grounds for the Robertson County Health Dept., Chaired the EMS committee and served on committees establishing the new jail, the Robertson Co. volunteer fire dept. and the Robertson County Recycling center. JW raised Hereford cattle and farmed tobacco and row crops on a large farm in Springfield and Sadlersville, Ky. until the late 80s. He was an avid golfer and managed the Springfield Country Club for several years. He then went on to start a medical transportation business which he ran until he retired in 2005. He was a man who loved his family, his community and his country. He never met a stranger and always saw the best in people. He would have said his crowning achievement was being a father to his four daughters and dedicating his life to his wife and family. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to one of two community services: The Robertson County Senior Citizen Center or the Stokes Library. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield are in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

John Wallace Darden

January 20, 1932 - June 28, 2014