William Dale Darnell, Sr, 87, passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019 at his residence.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 10:00am until the 12:00pm funeral service at Lowndes Funeral Home with Rev. Charity Gordon and Rev. Ron McDougald officiating. Burial will follow at Egger Cemetery in Caledonia. Lowndes Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Dale Darnell was born October 20, 1931 in Aberdeen, MS, to the late William Fred and Mae Dee Dale Darnell. He was a teacher who taught high school as well as coached at Moss Point, MS; Winona, MS; and Lee High School, Columbus, MS. He was the Founding Father of the Caledonia Confederates of Caledonia, MS. He also served as Basketball Coach at Caledonia High School. He worked as Plant Manager for Beneke, Columbus, MS; Stephens Toys, Herman, MO; Richards Medical, Memphis TN, and served as Vice President of Manufacturing for Microtek Medical, Columbus, MS; as well as LaRomana, Dominican Republic. He was a longtime member of Caledonia United Methodist Church, Caledonia, MS, where he served as Church Lay Leader and Lay Speaker. Mr. Darnell also made the Walk to Emmaus.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother: Sam Fred Darnell.

Mr. Darnell is survived by his wife of 68 years Betty Carolyn Lockhart Darnell; Sons: William Dale (Betty) Darnell, Jr., Samuel H. Darnell, and John Fredrick (Karen) Darnell; Grandchildren: William Samuel (Tiffany) Darnell, Lawrence Dale (Brittany) Darnell, Leila Mae Darnell, Fred Darnell, Stephen (Kristin) Johnston, Samantha Johnston, Dana (Scott) Fleming and Kellie (Tony) Weaver; Great Grandchildren: Taylor Darnell, Wyatt Darnell, Annabelle Darnell, Will and Mollie Kate Andrews, Brett and Carson Beatty, Jackson Fleming, Brianna Bobitt, and Kaylee Bobitt.

Pallbearers will be: William Samuel and Taylor Darnell, Lawrence and Wyatt Darnell, Fred Darnell, B.J. Haase, Walter Dodson, Michael Nickoles, Roy Jones and Tony Weaver. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Michael Duckworth, Dr Brad Brown, Deb Fisher, Rev Al Gore, Members of Caledonia United Methodist Church, Member of 1957 Caledonia High School Football Team, Edward Johnson, David Dean, Mark Atkins, Allen Tuttle, John Dodson, Rick Taylor, Woo Young Shin, Dan Lee, Kim Vought, Scott Reese, Josh Pounders, Robert Lee Loftis, Tony Smith, Bobby Egger, Scott Fleming, as well as Past and Present Employees of Microtek Medical.

Memorials may be made to Caledonia United Methodist Church, 811 Main Street, Caledonia, MS, 39740, P.O. Box 1, Caledonia, MS 39740