Charles Darling

POLAND - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10 AM at Holy Family Church with Msgr. William Connell officiating, for Charles W. Darling, 86, who passed away Wednesday at Park Vista.

Charles was born in Medford, MA in 1932.  Graduating from Abington High School, MA, he moved to Youngstown with his parents, Charles and Anne.  Following graduation from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH, he served in the U.S. Army as a medical technician.  He received a M.A. in History from Ohio University and later received additional historical training at Pennsylvania State University where he was a teaching assistant, and Ohio State University.  After serving as departmental chair of social studies at Springfield Local School (Ohio), he joined the history department of Youngstown State University teaching classes in American economic, social and cultural history, American folk music, and the Vietnam War on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He retired in 1995 as Professor Emeritus of History.

The author of two science fiction novels, Gamma Connection and End Games, Darling also has published two books on American Folk Music: The New American Songster and Messages of Dissent: Struggle Songs in American History.  His folk program on WYSU-FM, “Folk Festival,” celebrated its 48th season in 2018.  He was a member of the Ohio Academy of History and the history honorary society Phi Alpha Theta, as well as past president of the Youngstown Torch Club, where he has been a member since the early 1970s.  He received the Paxton Award in 2009 from the International Association of Torch Clubs for his paper “The Origins of the American Involvement in Vietnam.”

Charles leaves to cherish his memory, a nephew, Tom (Kelly) Doctor of Poland and their children, Jason Thomas Doctor of San Francisco, Dr. Dana Doctor of Carrboro, NC and Camryn and Avery Doctor of Poland; close friends and caregivers for the duration of Charles’ illness, Janet Moy and Dr. Thomas Copeland.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; a sister; a close friend, “Jean”; and a great nephew, Michael Doctor.

Appreciation and thank you extended to Atty. Neil Maxwell, the staff of  Ohio Living Park Vista and their hospice division.

Family and friends may call Sunday from 5 to 7 PM at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel and on Monday from 9:30 to 10 AM at Holy Family Church.