Charles Nield Darr, at age 101, left this world we know in the early morning hours of March 27, 2024. Those of us who loved him knew him as Pop, Uncle Charlie, Chuck or Daddy.

Charles, born January 28, 1923, was raised by Arthur and Naomi Darr with his two older sisters, Ruth and Thelma, in Brunswick, MD, a booming railroad town at the time. Upon high school graduation, Chuck made his way to Washington, DC, where he attended Bliss Electrical School, a two-year engineering program.

World War II began so, at age 20, Chuck joined the Army Air Corps (the predecessor to today’s Air Force) and trained as a pilot. He was very proud of his service. He logged over 500 flight hours piloting C-47 troop and supply carriers over the Himalayan Mountains (“The Hump”) in the China-Burma-India theatre. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. After the war, he flew several years with the Air Force Reserves. He was an active member of the Hump Pilots’ Association for 40 years, until it was disbanded because of the members’ advanced age.

One of Chuck’s boasts was that he knew every line of dialogue of “Casablanca”. How? With the war ended, the troop ship he boarded in December 1945 to return to the States showed 2 movies all day, every day. After several days, the returning servicemen would turn off the sound and take turns voicing roles.

Chuck returned to DC and began a 40-year career with C&P Telephone, part of the Bell System. There, he met the love of his life, Florence (Floss) Flagg. They married in 1951 and loved and cared for each other for 71 years. They raised twins, Arthur (Clink) and Cynthia (Cindy) in Chevy Chase, MD. He was a great listener and instilled confidence and strong values in his children.

As avid golfers, Chuck and Floss retired to Myrtle Beach in 1983 and enjoyed every day of their 25 years there. They belonged to two country clubs. Chuck “shot his age” into his ‘80’s.

They re-retired to Charlottesville in 2008 and resided at The Colonnades until 2022. In SC and VA, their cocktail parties were legendary – was it Floss’ fried wontons or Chuck’s stories or the cocktails? We’ll never know, but surely a little of each.

Chuck was a proud Pop to Russ and Katie Garver and Colby and Nina Darr. To each he taught the fine art of the train whistle- you’ll have to ask them about that.

Sadly, Chuck lost his son, Clink, in 2019 and Floss in 2022.

At his 100th birthday, Chuck made a speech (which he was apt to do at all significant functions), saying: “ We came of age during the Depression, then WWII and went on to build modern America. I was part of “The Greatest Generation”. We were not only united by a common purpose, but by common values, duty, honor, courage, love of family and country”.

We are so proud to have known and loved our Chuck, Pop, Uncle Charlie, Daddy. We know the pearly gates opened wide for him and that Floss and Clink were waiting there. We wish him wide fairways, clear skies, endless bowls of coffee ice cream, a bit of Jim Beam, and puppies (preferably dachshunds and yellow labs).

His was a life well-loved. He was our family’s hero.

A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held in late April. If you would care to make a contribution in his memory, we would ask that be directed to Hospice of the Piedmont.