Charley Darwin Kirksey, 95, of Pickerington, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at Mount Carmel Hospital East, in Columbus, Ohio. Darwin was born near Gilliland, Texas, on May 6, 1916, to Jessie Patterson Kirksey and Jesse Gardner Kirksey. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in General Business from North Texas University.
He joined the United States Coast Guard during World War II, then later joined the United States Navy and served in the Pacific. When the war was over, he returned to Texas and began teaching at Lamar University in 1946. Darwin received his Doctorate degree in Business from the University of Texas in 1957, and then taught Business Statistics at Lamar University until retirement in 1986. He moved to Pickerington, Ohio, in 2008.
After retirement, he was an avid bridge player and enjoyed taking trips with his wife, Blanche, to England, France, Italy, Greece and the nearby islands, as well as Scotland. He loved to read, as well as raise beautiful gardenias in his yard in Beaumont.
Survivors include his daughter, Dara Carr and her husband, Glen of Pickerington, Ohio; son, Dale Kirksey and his wife Marianne, of Conway, Arkansas; grandsons, Darren Carlton of Littleton, Colorado, Adam Carlton of Oswego, Illinois, and Stephen Olle of Round Rock; great-grandchildren, Mika Carlton, Elijah Carlton, Jacob Carlton, Elisabeth Carlton, all from Normal, Illinois; sister, Flora Lanning of Eugene, Oregon; half-brother, Jess Lanning of California; niece, Rosemary Kirksey; and nephews, Fred Kirksey, Ken Kirksey, Michael Kirksey and David Kirksey.
He is preceded in death by wife of sixty-six years, Blanche Kirksey, who died in 2007; his parents; sisters, Wilma and Una; and brother, Hubert Kirksey.
His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 13, 2011, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at Broussard’s.
