James Darden

James Robert "Jim" Darden, 81, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.

Jim was born Aug. 27, 1933, on a farm south of Cardwell, Missouri, to parents James Jewel Darden and Madeleine Nehls Robertson.

After moving to Kennett, Missouri, at age 3, he attended public school and graduated with the class of 1951. He attended one year at the U.S. Naval Academy, then returned to the University of Missouri and obtained a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. Jim joined the Missouri National Guard and graduated from officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served 11 years and was discharged with the rank of captain. After one year with Cities Service Oil Co., he joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., where he retired in December 1990 after 32 years of employment in engineering management. He also was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Mechnical Engineers and Pi Tau Sigma.

Jim leaves behind his precious wife, Dorothy Deardeuff Darden; two sons, James Keith Darden and his wife, Tita, and their son, Christopher, and Robert Edward Darden and his wife, Dorraine, and their daughters, Candice, Mattie and Grace; a sister, Bonnie Jean Fields; one brother, Donald Dean Darden; two nephews, Eric Dardens and Rick Fields; and two nieces, Lisa Darden and Karen Fields Martin.

He was preceded in death by his nephew, Roger W. Fields.

Visitation was Aug. 15 at Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at White Chapel, in Springfield, Missouri, with a funeral service Aug. 16. Interment was in White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be made to klingnerfuneralhome.com.