Jeanelda Denmark Darling

Jeanelda Denmark Darling was born June 26, 1927, and passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by loved ones, on April 17, 2024, at the age of 96.  Jeanelda was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas and was the daughter of Jesse V. and Lillian Marion Denmark.  After graduation from New Braunfels High School in 1945, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied costume design.  Jeanelda married her high school sweetheart Jack Elliott Darling in 1948 and worked in the administration offices for Austin Public Schools until Jack graduated from the University in 1950.  After his graduation they moved to Beaumont, where he worked in radio broadcasting for a time and then had a long career in banking. Jeanelda worked for an engineering firm until beginning their family in 1952.  Jeanelda and Jack were married for 59 years.

Jeanelda generously gave of her time as a volunteer at her children’s schools.  She was also a Camp Fire leader and for a number of years, served as a Group Leader for the Beaumont Camp Fire Council.  She was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which she and Jack joined in 1950, until it’s closing in 2015.  She was active on the Altar Guild and served as Bethlehem Lutheran’s Church Secretary from 1979 until her retirement in 1989.  She became a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in April 2016.

Jeanelda loved spending summers at the beach, fishing and crabbing.  She enjoyed neighborhood parties, reading, and her crossword puzzles. Jeanelda loved sports, especially college football. She rooted not only for the University of Texas, but all of her grandchildren’s alma maters.  She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed beautiful dresses for herself, recital costumes, Halloween costumes, school clothes and Barbie clothes for the children.  In their retirement, Jack and Jeanelda enjoyed going on road trips to see the country, visiting Civil War battlefields and museums.  They also enjoyed traveling to visit their growing family and eight grandchildren.  In her later years, she especially loved spending time with her great-grandchildren.  Her face would light up when they ran into the house to give great-grandma a hug.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack; her parents; brother, V. J. Denmark; sister, Janice Denmark Preiss; sons-in-law, Steve Wilson, and Ross Hill; and brother-in-law, Frank Edmondson.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Ellen Darling Wilson of Austin; Susan Darling Hill of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Catherine Darling Bigler and husband, Kyle of Georgetown; Bill C. Darling and wife, Crissy Petkovsek Darling of Beaumont; eight grandchildren, Lauren Wilson (Steven Palm); Kyle Wilson; Caitlin Hill; Elizabeth Bigler Hahn (Jared); Emily Darling Wilson (Brock); Caroline Bigler Dolan (Alex); Will Darling (Allison); and John Darling (fiancé Caroline Wied); five great-grandchildren, Lexi Laughlin, Hugh Wilson, Jack and Hudson Hahn, Charlie Dolan, and one on the way (a new baby Darling); sister, Lou Denmark Edmondson; brother-in-law, Elwood Preiss; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jeanelda’s family would like to thank the wonderful people in her life that loved her and looked after her; her Honeysuckle family: The Boods, Crutchfields, Stockerts, Arringtons, and many others; her wonderful Doctor Pranav Bhatt and his staff who took such loving care of her for years; and her kind and loving caregivers, Brenda Leday, Alice Thomas, Shirley Fentroy, and Estella Valdez.

Memorial contributions can be made to Nutrition and Services for Seniors (Meals on Wheels), 4590 Concord Road, Beaumont, Texas 77703.

A gathering of Mrs. Darling’s family and friends will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with a reception following in St. Anne’s Parish Hall, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A private graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.