Joseph Darling (1943-2022)
Joseph Edward Richard Darling, 79, Mayetta, died Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 at his home. He was born May 26, 1943 at the Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, Okla., the son of Marcell Joseph and Cherie Adair (Cochran) Darling.
Mr. Darling graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, Okla. and attended Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era and was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant.
He worked as claims processor at the unemployment office and later as a sorter for the United States Postal Service.
He was a member of the Methodist religion and a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
He married Anne Hughes. They divorced. He married Rita Doreene Jackson. They divorced.
Survivors include three sons, Joseph “Joey” Darling, Robert Darling (fiancé Delilah Trager) and Thomas Darling, all of Mayetta; a daughter, Lisa Darling, Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Nedra Darling (Bowman Cox), Alexandria, Va.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcell and Cherie Darling, and three sisters, Marcella Postoak, Wilma Whitaker and Rochelle Lepp.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow at the Shipshee Cemetery. Mr. Darling will lie in state at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Wednesday, Nov. 2.
