Harvey E. Darling

DARLING, Harvey Portage Harvey passed away in Kalamazoo, MI September 10, 2011. Harvey grew up in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek and spent a lot of his younger years on the family farm in Pavilion Township. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central H.S., joined the Navy during WWII before returning home and going to work for The Upjohn Company in the Print Shop composing room where he worked for the next 40 years. He met his wife at the Upjohn Company and they spent 62 wonderful years together. Harvey enjoyed many outdoor activities especially ice fishing at Long Lake and Hogset Lake. He bowled in the Upjohn League at Airway Lanes for many years. After retirement, he took up golf and shuttling cars with other retired friends. He enjoyed yearly outings in the fall going up north with fishing and hunting buddies. When he was younger, he coached Little League and was involved in boy scouts, building dune buggies with his sons and enjoyed going to Silver Lake with family and neighbors. Harvey was a lifetime, loyal fan of The Detroit Tigers. He also enjoyed gardening, traveling to Sarasota with his wife, Saturdays at Indian Lake swimming, skiing, and playing cards with cousins and going for walks with his wife at Prairieview Park. Harvey was blessed with many close life-long friends through work, neighborhood, and his love of fishing and bowling. In his late years, he was happiest spending all of his time with his beloved wife, Betty and enjoying occasional nights out for spaghetti dinners at the K of C. He enjoyed his monthly outings with Vern and the rest of the Print Shop Upjohn bunch, occasional outings at the bakery, but mostly spending time with his immediate family. Harvey was a devoted, loving, caring man to his wife, children and grandchildren. His spirit and unwavering commitment to them will be forever missed. His parents, his wife Betty, his sister Eleanor, and his oldest and youngest sons, Jimmy and Robert, preceded Harvey in death. Surviving are his son, Richard Darling; daughter, Sharon (James) Fess; three grandchildren, Robert, Matthew and Michael and his beloved cat, Ginger. There will be a memorial service to celebrate Harvey's life at 11 AM on Wednesday, September 2l, 2011 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 929 E. Centre Ave., Portage, MI. Donations in memory of Harvey may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.