Gene Hobart Darbyshire's Obituary
Gene Darbyshire Obituary
COLUMBUS GROVE — Gene Hobart Darbyshire, 81, died on October 19, following a five-month battle with primary liver cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family in his Columbus Grove home. Gene was born on May 5, 1931 to L. Brice and Lilace Kuhn Darbyshire in Elida, Ohio. He was a 1949 graduate of Columbus Grove High School . He was formerly married to Joan Trice Peggs. On March 12, 1982, he married Diana Allen who survives in Columbus Grove. Gene was employed by C&G Distributing from 1951 to 1963, and Marathon Oil Company from 1963 to 1966. In 1966 he began his career as Sales Manager at Irwin GMC where he received many national awards as a Sales Leader for General Motors. He remained there until he retired in 1995. In 1973, he founded Darbyshire Yamaha & BMW Sales in Cridersville. After his retirement, he drove a tour bus for Executive Coach from 1996 to 2007 and enjoyed the many friends he made on the bus trips. Survivors include four daughters: Linda (Gary) Kerr, Ft. Wayne; Debra (Mitch) Sadler, Ada; Diane (Mike) Tomlinson, Lima; and Lori (Jim) Van de Veire, Atlanta, GA; three step-daughters: Tammy (Denny) Myers; Gina (Steve) Gerding and Tisha Watkins; 2 step-sons: Brent (Jill) Glass and Joby (Melissa) Watkins. He also leaves behind 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, many special nieces & nephews and close family friends and neighbors. And of course, Kipper, his lapdog & companion, and all of his special coffee table friends. He was preceded in death by five brothers Brice, Covert, Wendell , David, and Sherman Darbyshire & one sister, Ruth L. John. Gene is a former member of Lima Jaycees & Lima Sunrise Sertoma club, a lifetime member of Lima Elks Lodge 54, The Black Swamp Horse Driving Club. He is a current member of the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Putnam County. The family would like to express our sincere thank you to all of the neighbors, friends and family for the words of kindness, cards and calls that we have all received since Gene’s diagnosis. A special thank you to Connie Cassidy, his Hospice Nurse. He often said, “I feel like the luckiest man in the world, and have had 81 wonderful years.” A tribute to Gene will begin at 10:30 am with the funeral service immediately following on Tuesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Brower Road, Lima, Ohio, Bishop Jeff Talbot will be officiating. Friends may call from 2:00-8:00pm Monday at Hartman Sons Funeral Home, Columbus Grove Contributions may be made to Putnam County Hospice or The Welfare Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS – Lima Ward. Condolences may be expressed at hartmansonsfuneralhome.com
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