Paul Lucien Darby

Paul Lucien Darby, 86, of 56 Crest Street, Middletown, RI, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2010 at home with his family. He was 83. He was the husband of Beverly Fifield Darby.Born in Newport, VT on December 4, 1923, he was the son of the late Cyril and Ruth Jenne Darby.Paul served in the US Army during WWII. He returned to college after the war and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1949, with a degree in Chemistry. He moved to Newport, RI in 1950 and worked as a chemist at the Naval Underwater Systems Center NUSC for 33 years, retiring in 1983. White at NUSC, he received government invention awards in 1967 and 1972 for developing various torpedo propellants. He was a noted musician, playing clarinet and saxaphone for the US Army Band, the Newport Concert Band, Salve Regina University Band and in local jazz bands, The Rampart Five and John Motiozas Dixieland Band. He was an active member of Calvary Methodist Church, singing in the choir for many years and serving in their soup kitchens. His retirement activities included gardening, shooting pool, watching the Red Sox and playing cribbage at the King Senior Center.Paul leaves his brother Robert Darby and his sister Harriet Downing, both of Derby Line VT. He was the father of the late Paul R. Darby. He leaves his son Thomas Darby and his wife Susan; his daughter Sandra Sumrow and her husband Greg; his grandchildren Lindsay and Austin Sumrow, and Alicia, Meridith and Thomas Darby. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2010, from 9:00-10:00AM in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.His funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2010, at 10:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, at 11:00 am in Calvary United Methodist Church, Turner and Wyatt Roads, Middletown. Burial will be in Middletown Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol County, Hospice Care, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.