Dr. Paul Thomas Darnell, 72, of Anaconda, Mont., formerly of Lebanon, died Dec. 24, 2018.
He was born Sept. 28, 1946, in Lebanon, Mo. to Dal and Glyda (James) Darnell.
Tom was a 1964 graduate of Lebanon High School. He graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in 1968. He began his teaching career with 6th graders at Joel E. Barber School. He then continued his education with a Masters of Special Education and doctorate at the University of Missouri. From teaching to principal and on to superintendent at age 32, he spent 43 years devoted to education.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Paula, and a brother, Jim.
Survivors include his wife Patricia, of the home and dog Penny; a brother, Charles (Bud) Darnell and Annette, of Lebanon; daughters, Stacy (Simpson) Brooks, of Iowa City, Iowa; Kelly Miller and Chris, of Springfield, and Jill Rowles, of Anaconda, Mont.; grandchildren Ryan and Jodi Sompson, of Iowa City, Iowa; Katelyn Simpson, of Iowa City, Iowa; Clayton Hester, of MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; Tricia Hester, of Springfield and Haley Davis, of Anaconda, Mont., along with many nephews, nieces, and numerous friends.
Funeral services for Dr. Paul Thomas Darnell were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, at Grace Baptist Church in Anaconda, Mont., under the direction of Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral & Cremation Service.
