Musician, business owner, colorful entrepreneur, Jay Darnell found happiness as a young man while in the army.
But before he joined up, in the 1930's he rode the rails from Oklahoma to California. Later in his life, Jay was interviewed by the California History Project about his days riding the rails and picking fruit during the 1930's in California.
While enlisted in the army he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Unfortunately he was injured at Camp Stewart and was given an honorable discharge. He then worked in the ship building plants at Houston, Texas and then, because he had such a high clearance, he went to work at Alamogordo, NM where they were developing the atomic bomb. While there, he was a driver for Robert J, Oppenheimer. After the war, he went to Amarillo, Texas and then to California where he joined his mother and two sisters. Jay was extremely close to his mother, Nannie; he brought her great joy up until the night she died.
At one time Jay owned and flew a plane and crashed near Wasco, California, although he was not hurt, he never flew again.
Jay was sensitive, tough, and wily - he was a real character. Always ready with a story, a joke, he filled a room with his humor and quick intelligence. Jay is still missed at family gatherings and the music and laughter just isn't the same. Jay was our beloved brother and uncle.
Brother
Lou Darnell
Sisters
Michelle Darnell Matarrese
Donna Darnell Barley
Military Information: SGT, US ARMY
But before he joined up, in the 1930's he rode the rails from Oklahoma to California. Later in his life, Jay was interviewed by the California History Project about his days riding the rails and picking fruit during the 1930's in California.
While enlisted in the army he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Unfortunately he was injured at Camp Stewart and was given an honorable discharge. He then worked in the ship building plants at Houston, Texas and then, because he had such a high clearance, he went to work at Alamogordo, NM where they were developing the atomic bomb. While there, he was a driver for Robert J, Oppenheimer. After the war, he went to Amarillo, Texas and then to California where he joined his mother and two sisters. Jay was extremely close to his mother, Nannie; he brought her great joy up until the night she died.
At one time Jay owned and flew a plane and crashed near Wasco, California, although he was not hurt, he never flew again.
Jay was sensitive, tough, and wily - he was a real character. Always ready with a story, a joke, he filled a room with his humor and quick intelligence. Jay is still missed at family gatherings and the music and laughter just isn't the same. Jay was our beloved brother and uncle.
Brother
Lou Darnell
Sisters
Michelle Darnell Matarrese
Donna Darnell Barley
Military Information: SGT, US ARMY
Musician, business owner, colorful entrepreneur, Jay Darnell found happiness as a young man while in the army.
But before he joined up, in the 1930's he rode the rails from Oklahoma to California. Later in his life, Jay was interviewed by the California History Project about his days riding the rails and picking fruit during the 1930's in California.
While enlisted in the army he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Unfortunately he was injured at Camp Stewart and was given an honorable discharge. He then worked in the ship building plants at Houston, Texas and then, because he had such a high clearance, he went to work at Alamogordo, NM where they were developing the atomic bomb. While there, he was a driver for Robert J, Oppenheimer. After the war, he went to Amarillo, Texas and then to California where he joined his mother and two sisters. Jay was extremely close to his mother, Nannie; he brought her great joy up until the night she died.
At one time Jay owned and flew a plane and crashed near Wasco, California, although he was not hurt, he never flew again.
Jay was sensitive, tough, and wily - he was a real character. Always ready with a story, a joke, he filled a room with his humor and quick intelligence. Jay is still missed at family gatherings and the music and laughter just isn't the same. Jay was our beloved brother and uncle.
Brother
Lou Darnell
Sisters
Michelle Darnell Matarrese
Donna Darnell Barley
Military Information: SGT, US ARMY
But before he joined up, in the 1930's he rode the rails from Oklahoma to California. Later in his life, Jay was interviewed by the California History Project about his days riding the rails and picking fruit during the 1930's in California.
While enlisted in the army he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Unfortunately he was injured at Camp Stewart and was given an honorable discharge. He then worked in the ship building plants at Houston, Texas and then, because he had such a high clearance, he went to work at Alamogordo, NM where they were developing the atomic bomb. While there, he was a driver for Robert J, Oppenheimer. After the war, he went to Amarillo, Texas and then to California where he joined his mother and two sisters. Jay was extremely close to his mother, Nannie; he brought her great joy up until the night she died.
At one time Jay owned and flew a plane and crashed near Wasco, California, although he was not hurt, he never flew again.
Jay was sensitive, tough, and wily - he was a real character. Always ready with a story, a joke, he filled a room with his humor and quick intelligence. Jay is still missed at family gatherings and the music and laughter just isn't the same. Jay was our beloved brother and uncle.
Brother
Lou Darnell
Sisters
Michelle Darnell Matarrese
Donna Darnell Barley
Military Information: SGT, US ARMY
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