Clarence Ransome Darling Jr.

Clarence R. "Rusty" Darling, Jr (87) of Raleigh died August 4, 2011. He is survived by Barbara, his loving wife of 65 years and his five devoted sons: Peter and wife Pat, their daughter (his granddaughter) Wendy Rogers and husband David Rogers and their sons (his great-grandsons) Hunter and Holden of Raleigh; Bruce and wife Cathi and their sons (his grandsons) Andrew and Steven of Winston-Salem, NC; Kevin and wife Ann and their daughter (his granddaughter) Kathleen of Ringwood, NJ; David and wife Linda of Kennewick, WA; and Brian and wife Aimee and her daughter Ashley of Arlington, VA.

Rusty was born in Houston, Texas on July 25, 1924. He graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. While at Rice, he played on two Southwest Conference Championship basketball teams, one of which played in the NIT tourney in Madison Square Garden. He was co-captain his senior year and received the Bob Quin Award as the outstanding senior athlete for that year.

He volunteered for service in the US Navy in WW-II and served 37 months, including duty as Engineering Officer on the USS Amesbury in the Okinawa area while training for the invasion of Japan. Prior to going on active duty in 1943, he went on vacation at the Stoneleigh working guest ranch in west Texas, where he met another guest, Barbara Brown of New Orleans. During the war, they remained in touch. They became engaged in early 1946, and after active duty, Rusty and Barbara were married in New Orleans on July 27, 1946. They then made their home in Houston, Texas.

Rusty's entire career was in the life insurance industry. In 1946, he opened the John Hancock Group Sales office in Houston, serving as Manager for Louisiana and the southern half of Texas. In 1957, Rusty and Barbara and their then four sons moved from Dallas to Raleigh, where he joined State Capital Life Insurance Company as Director of Training. He became Vice President in 1959 and a member of the Board of Directors in 1966. After 30 years of service, he retired as Vice President

of Marketing Services of the then Durham Life company.

During his career he achieved industry professional designations of CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter), CHFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) and FLMI (Fellow Life Management Institute).

Rusty and Barbara's main interests were family oriented, always busy with school, church, scouts, sports and travel. They especially loved the culture and scenery of the American West. In their later years they traveled extensively all over the world, often taking their sons and families.

Dad ("Papa D") and his kind deeds touched many people, but his love, honesty, and generosity helped his family's lives more than he never knew. He was a kind and gentle man who loved his family more than anything. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Rusty's family has been a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church since moving to Raleigh. Rusty served on the Vestry, and one year as Treasurer.

The Memorial Service in Thanksgiving for His Life will be held at 2pm on Sunday, August 7 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Rd., Raleigh. Prior to the Memorial Service, there will be a private internment service for the family only in the Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road, Raleigh, NC 27608, or to The Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Browne-Wynne Funeral Services, 300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh, NC 27605

Condolences may be sent to www.brownwynne.com