Paul Kelly Darnell, 81, of Johnson City, passed away Friday, August 19, 2016, at Johnson City Medical Center.
A native of Carter County, he was the son of the late Pete and Cora Mae Totten Darnell.
Paul was a graduate of Elizabethton High School. He served in the United States Air Force and the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. as a Supply Manager. He was of the Baptist Faith. Paul was a member of the VFW Post #2166, Elizabethton, and the Elizabethton Elks Lodge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Andes.
Survivors include his children, Aleta Darnell, Johnson City, Kelly Roberts and husband Tony, Greeneville, and Pamela Ensor and husband Alan, Johnson City; his “special loving companion,” Patricia Ruble; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Paula Dean Nave, Ryan Humphreys, Lauren Darnell, Lindsey Sawyer, Katelyn Roberts, Brooklyn Roberts, Cheyenne Finkle, Bentley and Talon Sawyer; a sister, Virginia Shupe, Bristol, Tenn.; a brother, Early Darnell and wife Carolyn, Asheboro, N.C.; the mother of his children, Laura Suddath, Greeneville, Tenn., and her mother, Seffie Dugger.
Graveside services for Paul Kelly Darnell will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery with the Rev. Reece Harris officiating. Interment will follow. Active pallbearers will be Alan Ensor, Adam Ensor, Ryan Humphreys, Wesley Heath, Matt Simerly and Gabe Roberts. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Simerly, Jay Estep and Tony Roberts. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of the Johnson City Medical Center Comfort Care for providing end of life care to an honorably discharged Veteran. Also to Ron and Judy Salisbury for all their support during his illness. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Paul to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-990 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605-4255. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Darnell family.