Obituary: Oscar B. Darden Jr., 2002
Source: The Daily Progress, September 9, 2002
Contributor: Charlie Truslow
------------------------------------------------------------

  Dr. Oscar Bruton Darden Jr., 78, of Wintergreen, (Nelson County), died 
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, at the University of Virginia Medical Center, 
following a brief illness. He was born July 17, 1924, in Richmond, the 
son of the late Dr. O.B. Darden Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Dunlap Darden. 
  He was a member of Rockfish Presbyterian Church and a U.S. Marine veteran 
of World War II. He was a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he was 
a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and also served as a math teacher. He was 
a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia and served his internship in 
Winchester. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the McGuire 
Veterans Hospital in Richmond. 
  He practiced Internal Medicine in Bedford for over 30 years before retiring 
to Wintergreen. He served on the board of directors of Bedford Memorial 
Hospital, where he was instrumental in establishing the cardiac care unit. He 
was the staff physician at the Elks National Home. 
  While a resident of Bedford he was a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church, 
where he served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher. He was instrumental in 
establishing the Bedford Christian Ministries and also served on the Bedford 
County School Board. 
  Dr. Darden was devoted to God, his family, and his community. He will be 
remembered as a man who taught his family, and those around him, the joy of 
life. He was a devoted grandfather, an avid skier, fisherman, and gardener. 
He handcrafted fine furniture, loved reading on multiple topics, and took 
great joy in repairing whatever was broken. He took joy from taking short 
cuts that turned into long cuts and driving trips with interesting visits off 
the beaten path. 
  He is survived by his wife, Ann Johnson Darden; a son, David Bruton Darden 
of Christiansburg; three daughters, Dr. Nan Darden Holland and her husband, 
Dr. R. Duane Holland, of Franklin, Tenn., Mary Darden McGee and her husband, 
Robert C. McGee, of Richmond, Carol Darden Miller and her husband, Larry W. 
Miller, of Midland; and eight grandchildren, Jennifer Miller Klein, Jeremy P. 
Holland, Kristin E. Holland, Ashley N. Brennan, Mary C. Holland, Jordan A. 
Darden, Meagan D. McGee, and Jacob M. Darden. 
  Two memorial services are planned in Dr. Darden's honor.  The first will be 
at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning at Rockfish Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David 
Cameron officiating. The second will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bedford 
Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Joseph S. Gaston officiating. 
  Those that wish to make memorials are asked to consider, Wintergreen Volunteer 
Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 711, Wintergreen, Va. 22978; Rockfish Presbyterian Church, 
P.O. Box 278, Nellysford, Va. 22958; Bedford Presbyterian Church, 101 West Main 
St., Bedford, Va. 24523; or Bedford Community Health Foundation, 321 N. Bridge 
St., Bedford, Va. 24523. 
  Carder-Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford, is in charge of arrangements. 

******************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent.
******************************************************************