OBITUARY - Raymond George Darwin
Ray Darwin, 85, of Zephyrhills FL, formerly of Midland MI, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, in Zephyrhills FL. He was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Grandview WI, the ninth child and third son of Sherwood Joseph and Anna Amelia (Johnson) Darwin. He married Marjorie Meta Rika (Beck) Darwin in Ashland WI on Sept. 27, 1941. Marge fought a year-long battle with cancer and was called home by our Lord in 1983 at the age of 64. At the time of his death, Mr. Darwin was survived by his children and their spouses - Kenny and Sandy (Borr) Darwin of East Lansing MI; Keith and Heather (Swaim) Darwin of Ferrisburgh VT; Vic and Kathy (Darwin) Jackson of Lone Pine CA; and Larry and Karen (Darwin) Robert of Kerrville TX; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and about 25 nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his sisters, Bee Zydor of Zephyrhills FL; Edith and Hank Edwardson of Beaverton MI; Lucille Erickson of Ashland WI; and Ila Mae Lemmons of Grand Rapids MI; and his brothers, Jay Darwin of Key Largo FL; Donald Darwin of Zephyrhills FL; Bob and Helen (Neer) Darwin of Naples FL; and George and Vi Darwin of Zephyrhills FL. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Grace Brakken, Marge Thornton, Isabella Darwin and Bernice Darwin; and an infant brother, Roy Darwin. Funeral services were handled by Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Chapel in Midland MI. Rev. Kirk J. Havel, Trinity Lutheran Church, officiated with burial in Midland Cemetery, Midland MI. Memorials: Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield NJ 07081.
ACCIDENT - On January 15, 1985, Ray was in a car accident. The accident itself was not a severe one; he was stopped in a left turn lane waiting to make his turn when he was rear ended by a delivery truck going 40-45 mph. His injuries, however, were very serious and life changing. He suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injury - about 2" of his spinal cord was damaged beyond repair. He expected the doctors would "wheel him into surgery and fix it", but this was not the case. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He spent 6 months in rehab after the accident, and his doctor anticipated he would only live about 2.5 years because of his injuries. I never saw Daddy express any anger or hatred toward the 19 year old that rear-ended him, nor did he choose to ever file a lawsuit with regard to this unfortunate accident. By the grace of God and the loving care of a small group of full-time health care aides, we were blessed with Daddy's presence in our lives after his accident for 18 years and 8 months until 2003 when he passed away at the age of 85.
Ray Darwin, 85, of Zephyrhills FL, formerly of Midland MI, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, in Zephyrhills FL. He was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Grandview WI, the ninth child and third son of Sherwood Joseph and Anna Amelia (Johnson) Darwin. He married Marjorie Meta Rika (Beck) Darwin in Ashland WI on Sept. 27, 1941. Marge fought a year-long battle with cancer and was called home by our Lord in 1983 at the age of 64. At the time of his death, Mr. Darwin was survived by his children and their spouses - Kenny and Sandy (Borr) Darwin of East Lansing MI; Keith and Heather (Swaim) Darwin of Ferrisburgh VT; Vic and Kathy (Darwin) Jackson of Lone Pine CA; and Larry and Karen (Darwin) Robert of Kerrville TX; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and about 25 nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his sisters, Bee Zydor of Zephyrhills FL; Edith and Hank Edwardson of Beaverton MI; Lucille Erickson of Ashland WI; and Ila Mae Lemmons of Grand Rapids MI; and his brothers, Jay Darwin of Key Largo FL; Donald Darwin of Zephyrhills FL; Bob and Helen (Neer) Darwin of Naples FL; and George and Vi Darwin of Zephyrhills FL. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Grace Brakken, Marge Thornton, Isabella Darwin and Bernice Darwin; and an infant brother, Roy Darwin. Funeral services were handled by Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Chapel in Midland MI. Rev. Kirk J. Havel, Trinity Lutheran Church, officiated with burial in Midland Cemetery, Midland MI. Memorials: Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield NJ 07081.
ACCIDENT - On January 15, 1985, Ray was in a car accident. The accident itself was not a severe one; he was stopped in a left turn lane waiting to make his turn when he was rear ended by a delivery truck going 40-45 mph. His injuries, however, were very serious and life changing. He suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injury - about 2" of his spinal cord was damaged beyond repair. He expected the doctors would "wheel him into surgery and fix it", but this was not the case. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He spent 6 months in rehab after the accident, and his doctor anticipated he would only live about 2.5 years because of his injuries. I never saw Daddy express any anger or hatred toward the 19 year old that rear-ended him, nor did he choose to ever file a lawsuit with regard to this unfortunate accident. By the grace of God and the loving care of a small group of full-time health care aides, we were blessed with Daddy's presence in our lives after his accident for 18 years and 8 months until 2003 when he passed away at the age of 85.
OBITUARY - Raymond George Darwin
Ray Darwin, 85, of Zephyrhills FL, formerly of Midland MI, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, in Zephyrhills FL. He was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Grandview WI, the ninth child and third son of Sherwood Joseph and Anna Amelia (Johnson) Darwin. He married Marjorie Meta Rika (Beck) Darwin in Ashland WI on Sept. 27, 1941. Marge fought a year-long battle with cancer and was called home by our Lord in 1983 at the age of 64. At the time of his death, Mr. Darwin was survived by his children and their spouses - Kenny and Sandy (Borr) Darwin of East Lansing MI; Keith and Heather (Swaim) Darwin of Ferrisburgh VT; Vic and Kathy (Darwin) Jackson of Lone Pine CA; and Larry and Karen (Darwin) Robert of Kerrville TX; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and about 25 nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his sisters, Bee Zydor of Zephyrhills FL; Edith and Hank Edwardson of Beaverton MI; Lucille Erickson of Ashland WI; and Ila Mae Lemmons of Grand Rapids MI; and his brothers, Jay Darwin of Key Largo FL; Donald Darwin of Zephyrhills FL; Bob and Helen (Neer) Darwin of Naples FL; and George and Vi Darwin of Zephyrhills FL. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Grace Brakken, Marge Thornton, Isabella Darwin and Bernice Darwin; and an infant brother, Roy Darwin. Funeral services were handled by Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Chapel in Midland MI. Rev. Kirk J. Havel, Trinity Lutheran Church, officiated with burial in Midland Cemetery, Midland MI. Memorials: Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield NJ 07081.
ACCIDENT - On January 15, 1985, Ray was in a car accident. The accident itself was not a severe one; he was stopped in a left turn lane waiting to make his turn when he was rear ended by a delivery truck going 40-45 mph. His injuries, however, were very serious and life changing. He suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injury - about 2" of his spinal cord was damaged beyond repair. He expected the doctors would "wheel him into surgery and fix it", but this was not the case. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He spent 6 months in rehab after the accident, and his doctor anticipated he would only live about 2.5 years because of his injuries. I never saw Daddy express any anger or hatred toward the 19 year old that rear-ended him, nor did he choose to ever file a lawsuit with regard to this unfortunate accident. By the grace of God and the loving care of a small group of full-time health care aides, we were blessed with Daddy's presence in our lives after his accident for 18 years and 8 months until 2003 when he passed away at the age of 85.
Ray Darwin, 85, of Zephyrhills FL, formerly of Midland MI, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, in Zephyrhills FL. He was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Grandview WI, the ninth child and third son of Sherwood Joseph and Anna Amelia (Johnson) Darwin. He married Marjorie Meta Rika (Beck) Darwin in Ashland WI on Sept. 27, 1941. Marge fought a year-long battle with cancer and was called home by our Lord in 1983 at the age of 64. At the time of his death, Mr. Darwin was survived by his children and their spouses - Kenny and Sandy (Borr) Darwin of East Lansing MI; Keith and Heather (Swaim) Darwin of Ferrisburgh VT; Vic and Kathy (Darwin) Jackson of Lone Pine CA; and Larry and Karen (Darwin) Robert of Kerrville TX; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and about 25 nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his sisters, Bee Zydor of Zephyrhills FL; Edith and Hank Edwardson of Beaverton MI; Lucille Erickson of Ashland WI; and Ila Mae Lemmons of Grand Rapids MI; and his brothers, Jay Darwin of Key Largo FL; Donald Darwin of Zephyrhills FL; Bob and Helen (Neer) Darwin of Naples FL; and George and Vi Darwin of Zephyrhills FL. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Grace Brakken, Marge Thornton, Isabella Darwin and Bernice Darwin; and an infant brother, Roy Darwin. Funeral services were handled by Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Chapel in Midland MI. Rev. Kirk J. Havel, Trinity Lutheran Church, officiated with burial in Midland Cemetery, Midland MI. Memorials: Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield NJ 07081.
ACCIDENT - On January 15, 1985, Ray was in a car accident. The accident itself was not a severe one; he was stopped in a left turn lane waiting to make his turn when he was rear ended by a delivery truck going 40-45 mph. His injuries, however, were very serious and life changing. He suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injury - about 2" of his spinal cord was damaged beyond repair. He expected the doctors would "wheel him into surgery and fix it", but this was not the case. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He spent 6 months in rehab after the accident, and his doctor anticipated he would only live about 2.5 years because of his injuries. I never saw Daddy express any anger or hatred toward the 19 year old that rear-ended him, nor did he choose to ever file a lawsuit with regard to this unfortunate accident. By the grace of God and the loving care of a small group of full-time health care aides, we were blessed with Daddy's presence in our lives after his accident for 18 years and 8 months until 2003 when he passed away at the age of 85.
Family Members
Siblings
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Sylvia Beatrice "Bee" Darwin Zydor
1908–2010
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Marguerite Pamelia Maria "Marge" Darwin Thornton
1909–1993
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Roy Darwin
1911–1911
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Edith Harriet Darwin Edwardson
1912–2014
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Lucille Esther Darwin Erickson
1914–2008
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Sherwood Jerold "Jay" Darwin
1915–2004
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Isabelle May Darwin
1915–1915
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Grace I. Darwin Brakken
1916–1966
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Bernice Darwin
1918–1920
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Donald David "Hoot" Darwin
1920–2008
