Raymond Darnell

On April 14, 2013 Raymond Thomas Darnell of Longwood, FL; beloved husband of the late Gretel Williams Darnell; devoted father of Thomas Darrell Darnell, Sr.and his wife Barbara of Baltimore, MD, Deborah Ann Francis and her husband Roger of Longwood, FL, and the late Richard Arland Darnell, Sr.; dear grandfather of Heather Ann Peeples and her husband Mark of Altamonte Springs, FL, David Matthew Francis of Longwood, FL, Michael Aaron Francis of Casselberry, FL, Thomas Darrell Darnell, Jr. of Baltimore, MD, Timothy David Darnell of Baltimore, MD, Richard Darnell, Jr. and Rita Darnell both of Georgia; dear great-grandfather of several, including: Tiffany Darnell, Jordan Darnell, Brittany Darnell, Brennan Darnell, Greta Peeples and great-great grandfather of Abel Chadwick; loving son of the late James Harvey and Polina Darnell; dear brother of Evelyn Campbell, Donald Darrell Darnell and his wife Becky.

Raymond was a member of Operating Engineers Local 37 since 1948. He was a crane operator for many years, and among his many other accomplishments working for the Local, he set every tube in the Fort McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore. He spent many years working under Local 37 at Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Sparrows Point. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, helping to keep the home coast safe. He worked for Glenn L. Martin Company during the War, building and testing war planes. Before he found the opportunity to work for Operating Engineers, he worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as a fireman. Raymond was a member of the Masonic Order and Tall Cedars of Lebanon.


Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home P.A.  1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex at Route 702 (beltway exit 36) on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM.  Funeral service on Saturday at 11 AM.  Interment Gardens of Faith Cemetery.