Roll Call Tribute

Sunset North Funeral Home obituary
910 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232 | 210-495-7770

Coleman Howard Darnell Jr.
December 25, 1923 - July 5, 2016

Visitation
Monday, July 11, 2016 | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Sunset North Funeral Home
910 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio, Texas 78232
Driving Directions

Memorial Service
Monday, July 11, 2016 | 2:00 pm
Sunset North Funeral Home
910 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio, Texas 78232
Driving Directions

Coleman Howard Darnell, Jr. age 92 went to be with the Lord in Heaven on July 5, 2016. He was born in McGhee, Arkansas on December 25, 1923 to C.H. (Jack) Darnell and Minnie Wilbert Darnell. He was preceded in death by his wife, of 61 years, Dagny H. Darnell and is survived by sons Mark and Scott Darnell. At the age of six months the family moved to San Antonio, TX where he began his public school education. At the age of 10 the family moved to Laredo, TX, where he continued his public school education graduating from Martin High School in the class of 1942. He attended Texas A&M University prior to entering the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Program graduating as a pilot at Luke Field, AZ. He graduated from Fighter Pilots school flying the P 38 where he flew 36 combat missions. He returned to the States and resumed his studies at Texas A&M receiving a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering, all the while participating in the Air Force Reserve retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1967. In May of 1947 he attended a dance at Trinity University where he met the girl he was to marry, Dagny Halverson and they were married on June 9, 1948. Upon graduation the couple moved to Laredo, TX, where he worked for The Mexican Railway Company for 42 years beginning as a draftsman in the Engineering Dept. and retiring as President and Chief Operating Officer. Upon his retirement, the couple moved to San Antonio, TX, where he did volunteer work for the Texas Transportation Museum. He was a Registered Professional Engineer, a Registered Public Land Surveyor, a member of several railroad organizations and a 60+ year member of the Masonic Lodge. Services will be held at Sunset North Funeral Home on Monday, July 11, 2016 with an internment at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. It is requested that donations be made in his name to the Salvation Army, The Texas Transportation Museum or the charity of your choice.