Kenneth E. Darone

YORK--Kenneth E. Darone passed away on July 29, 2023, at SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Kelly Drive in York. He was born June 27, 1922, in York, as a son of Maurice P. and Annie T. Darone (née Hyde) and married Geraldine May Smeltzer of Windsor, York County, on August 21, 1954. Fifty-five years of faithfully honoring their vows ended with Geraldine’s sudden passing in 2009.

He was a 1940 graduate of William Penn Senior High School. After 43 years of continuous employment with the York Corporation and York Division of Borg-Warner Corporation, he retired in 1984. Due to the importance of his position to the execution of the York Plan during World War II, York Corporation filed for a deferral of his draft until the cessation of hostilities; thereafter, he joined the Third Army for the occupation of Germany and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant.

Mr. Darone was a member of Hayshire United Church of Christ, AARP, Golden Nuggets, West Manchester Mall Walkers, and his employer’s 25-Years Continuous Service Club. He loved to hunt and fish. Traveling far and wide with his wife extended as distantly as Australia and New Zealand. After the York Revolution arrived, Ken and his son-in-law treasured one another while rediscovering a mutual love of baseball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three sisters and one brother. Mr. Darone is survived by a daughter, Debra D. Coho and her husband, Donald of York; and by a niece, Rosanne Plaski and her husband Jim Fowler, of Parker, Colorado. Beloved nieces and nephews in the next two generations include Sarah, Joel, Amanda, Clay, Hailey, Kale, Callie, Dusty, Brandy, Norah and Jameson.

The trials of his final few years were eased by patient, loving care from the staff at Kelly Drive and from Caring Hospice Services. Amanda, Antonette and Chaplain Tim of the latter aided both Ken and Deb.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00AM Friday, August 4, 2023 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York. Officiating the service will be his pastor, the Rev. Brenda Marin Enders. A viewing will be held from 10:00AM – 11:00AM, Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Windsor Cemetery with military honors provided by the York County Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to York County SPCA, 3159 N. Susquehanna Trail, York, Pa 17406 or Hayshire United Church of Christ, 100 Haybrook Drive, York, Pa 17406.

Send Condolences at HeffnerCare.com

CLICK HERE TO SEND FLOWERS

FLOWER IMAGE