John Darnell

Private Visitation and Services - Immediate Family Only On September 1, 2020, John Hill Darnell, of Vestavia Hills, AL, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family. Services are provided by Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko, MS and he will be buried at Friendship Cemetery in Friendship, MS. John was born November 2, 1943, to John Darnell and Kathleen Hill Howell. He was the oldest of four children. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Alabama at Birmingham where he received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering. He retired early as an electrical engineer for South Central Bell/ATT after 20 years. He then had a second career in academics and taught at University of AL and UAB and retired a second time as a professor of engineering at Western Kentucky University. John met his wife Betty Ellis in July of 1970 in Tuscaloosa, AL, and they were married January 23, 1971. They had 2 children and 3 grandchildren. John enjoyed politics, playing pool, and studying Spanish and English vocabulary. He always had a pencil and notebook with him, and they were filled with witty comments that he thought of or heard. He spent much of his time during the years he taught developing problems and solutions for his students much to their dismay. John resided in Vestavia, AL, but enjoyed spending time in the mountains in Murphy, NC. His life really began 10 years ago when his twin granddaughters were born and was truly complete when his youngest granddaughter was adopted two years ago. John was a quiet man, but if you ever gave him the opportunity to talk about his granddaughters you had a hard time getting him to stop. Since the arrival of his grandchildren all he ever wanted as presents were pictures of the girls so he could give them out to everyone in his Sunday School classes at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, or Friendship Baptist Church in Murphy, NC, or at every doctor's appointment. He was a heart patient and a cancer survivor and taught his whole family how to never give up even when the situation seems insurmountable. He was a man of honor, and his word meant everything to him. He was guided very strongly in his choices by the Lord and was very strongly rooted in his faith. He is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Laura Johnson (Brandon), son Jason Darnell (Marla), granddaughters Megan Darnell, Madelyn Darnell, and Emma Grace Johnson, sisters Deborah Lackley and Gail Bullington, brother David Darnell, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Hospital.