WOBURN: Robert D. Darby, 85, formerly of Reading, died Wednesday, June 18, 2014 in the Hunt Nursing & Rehab., Danvers following an extended illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Helen (Redican) Darby.
Born in Lynn on February 12, 1929, he was the son of the late Donald and Lillian (Berry) Darby. He had resided in Lynn and Reading for many years, before moving to Woburn several years ago.
Robert was the longtime proprietor of the former Darby’s Dairy Bar in Wakefield and had also operated a bread distribution business for many years. A lifelong member of Rotary International, he served as District Governor from 1979 – 1980. He was active in the Belmont Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.
He is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Darby of Woburn and Susan Cogswell of Danvers; a son, James Darby and his wife, Ott of Riverview, FL; two step-daughters, Sharon Driscoll and her husband, Patrick of Leominster and Pamela Camarda and her husband, Robert of Beverly; a step-son, James Harrison and his wife, Sherilyn of Braintree; thirteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Dolores Harris of CA and Sharon Santos of Salem and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his parents, Donald and Lillian (Berry) Darby, two sisters, Aileen Monahan and Raeburn Feilteau, two brothers, James Darby and Earl Sands, a step-son, Paul Harrison and a brother-in-law Robert Redican.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday in St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Rotary Scholarship Foundation, c/o Rotary Club of Belmont, P.O. Box 96, Belmont, MA 02478. Interment will be in Wood End Cemetery, Reading.