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Joe Darden was born in Clarendon, Texas June 7, 1909 to W. W. and Josie Darden. Joe attended school in Girard where the family lived for a time. Later his family moved north of Crosbyton.Leola (Bill Bennett) Darden was born in Ralls December 21, 1914 to S. J. and Susan Bennett. She attended school at Fairview, Cone, New Home and Ralls where she graduated from high school in 1931. Bill was a beauty operator for Minnie Payne six years.
Joe and Bill were married April 17, 1937 in Oklahoma City. Joe was on construction for General Telephone Company at the time. He later became plant manager for the telephone company at Wheeler; for two years. He was then transferred to Wellington as plant manager.
A son, Joe David, was born August 6, 1941 at Wellington. The Dardens moved to Ralls where Joe managed Bennett Auto Supply and Bill had a beauty shop. In 1952 the Dardens became partners with Earl C. Abell and J. B. Prewitt in the International Harvester business in Lorenzo where they have resided 26 years. A daughter, Susan, was born in Ralls hospital September 10, 1954.
Both Joe David and Susan were graduated from Lorenzo High School. Joe David obtained a degree from West Texas State University in Canyon. He majored in physical education and minored in biology. He also attended college at Sul Ross in Alpine. He married Carolyn Wallace, daughter of Harold and Johnnie Pearl Wallace who lived north of Lorenzo. Carolyn and Joe David were married September 3, 1961. They have twins, Joe Willard and Jeanette Pearl, who were born December 10, 1962 at Canyon. Joe and Jeanette attend Lorenzo Schools. Carolyn is employed in the school system. Joe David was zone manager for International Harvester in the Paris, Texas zone and was zone manager Case Implement in the Dallas area. He is now implement salesman for Abell Darden Prewitt Implement Company.
Susan Darden is a 1977 graduate of Texas Tech. She also attended Lubbock Christian College for two years. She majored in home economics education. Susan was employed as a dental assistant for James M. Reynolds, DDS, in Lubbock the past three years.
Bill Darden has been a bookkeeper for Abell Darden Prewitt for 26 years. Her hobbies are china painting and sewing.
Joe has been manager of the company and active in civic affairs. He served as president of Lorenzo Independent School District board, was Cubmaster and later Scoutmaster. He served on White River Youth Camp board, Crosby County Library, City Councilman, and recently received a plaque from Rio Blanco Soil Conservation district for service as secretary over 25 years. He serves as Mayor of Lorenzo.
The Joe Darden family are members of Lorenzo Church of Christ.
Memories of Fairview School an old frame building before the new brick building was built: Going to school by Charlie Verett farm which joined the Bennett farm on the southeast corner; walking to school with the Verett children; exchanging mamma´s homemade cake with Minnie for Mrs. Verett´s homemade "light bread;" on days we went to school in the buggy, remember Jim laying the reins across the front of the buggy and Leatha, Jim, and I eating the remains of our home packed lunch out of a Mary Jane´s syrup bucket. Lunch was cold biscuit, sausage, ham, fried pies and cake. Memories of Cone school: going the first day in our horse-drawn two seated hack. I was seven years old and had been promoted to fourth grade; papa being an ex-school teacher thought I was too young, and made me do the third grade over. Ruth Bartley was my teacher. Leatha and I went to New Home school where Mrs. Gladys Parker (Gray) was our teacher. We later went to Ralls school where Bozenna Day, daughter of Bell and W. M. Day, was my best friend. Other teachers I had were Ethel (McDaniel) Webb, Betty Travis, Lois Hale, Edna Tomlinson, Author Baer, Jimmy Rankin, C. B. Hendrick, Bess Windsor, Mayme Rylander, Gladys Penn, W. M. Penn, Mary Ware and R. M. Read.
Crosby County History Book, 1876-1977
Transcribed by Cheryl McDonald
Services for Joe E. Darden, 84, of Lorenzo, will be 2 p.m. Saturday in the Lorenzo Church of Christ with Brad Swyard, a Church of Christ minister from Taylor NB., and Dan Proffitt, minister of the Lorenzo Church of Christ, officiating.Burial will follow in the Lorenzo Cemetery under direction of Carter-Adams Funeral Home of Ralls.
Darden died at 8:05 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1993, in Lubbock's Methodist Hospital.
He was born June 7, 1909, in Clarendon and married Bill Bennett on April 17, 1937, in Oklahoma City, OK. He moved to Lorenzo in 1953 from Ralls. He was a member of the Lorenzo Church of Christ.
Darden was a partner and manager of the Abell-Darden-Prewitt Implement Co. in Lorenzo for many years. He was former president of the Lorenzo Independent School Board and was a 30 year member and past president of the Lorenzo Lions Club. He was a 12 year member of the Lorenzo Senior Citizens, where he was serving as president. Darden was a member of the Road Runners Club and he served on the Lorenzo City Council for 14 years and as mayor for 4 years. He was a former member and past president of the Crosby County Library Board. He was former secretary of the Rio Blanco Soil Conservation District. He served on the White River Youth Camp Board and was a former scoutmaster in Lorenzo.
Darden was a 50 year mason, serving as past master of the Emmas Masonic Lodge #931, and was currently a member of the Lorenzo Masonic Lodge#1144. He also was a member and past worth patron of the Ralls Order of the Eastern Star. In July 1993, he was named Citizen of the Month by the Lorenzo Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Susan Butler of Canyon; a son, Joe David Darden of Lorenzo; a brother, M.T. "Theady" Darden of Lorenzo; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, October 8, 1993
LORENZO (Special) - Services for Bill Darden, 82, of Lorenzo were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, in the Lorenzo Church of Christ with Joseph Johnston, minister, and Brad Swygard of Taylor, Neb., officiating.Burial followed in the Lorenzo Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home of Lorenzo.
Mrs. Darden died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997, at her Lorenzo residence following an illness.
She was born Dec. 21, 1914, in Ralls. She married Joe Darden on April 17, 1937, in Oklahoma City. He died Oct. 6, 1993. She was a member of Lorenzo Order of the Eastern Star, Lubbock China Painters Guild and the Lubbock Travel Club. She was a member of the Lubbock Christian University Associates. She moved to Lorenzo from Ralls in 1953.
She was a bookkeeper.
Survivors include her son and his wife, Joe David and Carolyn of Lorenzo; a daughter and her husband Susan and Steven Butler of Canyon; a sister, Leatha Thomas of Wellington; five grandchildren, Joe Willard Darden, Jeanette Darden Swygard, Susan Lee Butler, Lauren Joe Butler, and Chase butler; and three great-grandchildren, Sarah Swygard, Joel David Swygard, and John Peter Swygard.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Sept 25, 1997
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