Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Darden, Thomas I., 2008 

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THOMAS IRVIN DARDEN

   Thomas Irvin Darden, 81, died Aug. 2, 2008.  He was a lifelong resident of 
Southampton County, a son of the late Sallie Lankford and Hunter Darden, Sr. 
He was also predeceased by a sister, Louise D. Vaughan, and two brothers, 
Harvey Darden, Sr. and Charles B. Darden, Sr.  He was a veteran of WWII, 
serving in General of the Air Force H.H. "Hap" Arnold’s office in Washington, 
D.C. and the Korean War, serving with the 136th Fighter Bomber Wing in Japan. 
Mr. Darden was a member, former Sunday School teacher, former clerk of 
Sycamore Baptist Church.  He was a charter member of the Forks of the River 
Ruritan Club, and a former member of the Franklin Jaycees and Franklin Lion 
Club.  He was a charter member of the Southampton Agricultural and Forestry 
Museum.  As a hobby, he raised purebred show chickens, showing them at fairs 
all along the east coast.  He was a charter member of the Virginia Poultry 
Breeders Association and served as secretary and treasurer for the first 19 
years of the association.  He was a lifetime member of the American Poultry 
Association, the American Bamtam Association, and was owner of the Dogwood 
Retreat Antiques.  He was an employee of Union Camp Corporation for 41 years 
and was the first manager of the computer department, serving more than 30 
years in the field.  Survivors include his sister, Dorothy D. Cotton; his 
brother, Hunter Darden, Jr. and wife Jean; six nieces; six nephews; 16 great-
nieces and nephews; and 18 great-great nieces and nephews.  A funeral service 
was conducted Tuesday at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas Mabe and the 
Rev. Dr. Roger Crump officiating.  Interment, with military honors, followed 
in Poplar Spring Cemetery.  The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, 
memorials may be made to Sycamore Baptist Church, 31120 Sycamore Church Road, 
Franklin, VA 23851 or a charity of choice.  Condolences may be offered at 
www.wrightfuneralhome.org.


Thomas Irvin DARDEN, WW-II & Korean War veteran, 41-year Union Camp employee, 
owner of Dogwood Retreat Antiques and poultry breeder/fancier, 
lifelong resident of Southampton Co., d. 2 Aug 2008, age 81, 
interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Annex 3, Section B, Plot 84*), Franklin, 
"The Virginian-Pilot" (Norfolk, VA) 

*Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project,
   Poplar Spring list:
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/psanx3.txt 

His father's obit is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d635h2ob.txt 

His mother's obit is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d635s2ob.txt 

His paternal grandmother's obit is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d635l4ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Joan Brinkley & Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d635t3ob.txt