Greatly beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2013 at the venerable age of 89. Phil was born in Washington, Kansas to parents Manilla Grace Pickering and Philip Nathan Darby. He graduated from Kemper Military School in Booneville, Missouri in 1941, and held advanced degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Nebraska where he joined the SAE Fraternity.
As a member of the “Greatest Generation,” Phil proudly served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a B-17 pilot stationed at Bassingbourn, England. His airplane, “Outhouse Mouse,” was part of the 91st Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force and completed an astounding 139 missions. Phil came to Santa Barbara with his wife Betty and three small children in 1956 as a young pharmaceutical rep and continued in this career until his retirement in 1985. In 1975 Phil married Doris, and for 38 happy years together traveled extensively.
Phil is survived by Doris; sons Philip Nathan Darby III, John Darby and wife Lisa; daughter Nancy Darby Walker and husband David; grandchildren Drew Darby; Rachael Holland and husband Steve; Jordan Darby and wife Lindsay; Vanessa Darby, Robert Love Walker; and great-grandchild Ellie Joy Holland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Braille Institute (www.brailleinstitute.org) or to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (www.vnhcsb.org).
