Darrel William Stults

Darrel was born February 22, 1925, in a farm house north of Vernon Colorado. Darrel was the first of 2 children
born to German immigrants and homesteaders Art and Rena Stults. His childhood home is one and one quarter
miles north of Vernon Colorado, less than a half mile from his birth-site.

Darrel was 7 when the "dirty thirties began.” As history tells, economic times were tough as was the lifestyle.
Darrel and his sister, Leona, shared in the farm work as well as the chores of gathering sparse wood and cow pies
to burn in the stove for heating and cooking. They also rode horse back a mile and a quarter to the Vernon
Parochial school where they both graduated. On April 28, 1936 rain finally returned to the area and the dust bowl
came to an end. The lessons learned during “The Great Depression” would shape the rest of Darrel’s life.
Darrel graduated from high school at the height of the Second World War. Upon graduation all able bodied males
were drafted and sent to Denver for physicals. Darrel was 4-F for his bad knees resulting from high school football
and remained home to operate the family farm. He supported the war effort through the collection of farm scrap
iron as well as through rationing food, gasoline and all other consumables.

In 1946 Darrel met Martha Marie Ireton at the Wray Cafe. After a brief period of dating the two married in 1947, a
union lasting 67 years and the remainder of Martie’s life. Early in their marriage the resident Lutheran pastor
encouraged the young couples to adopt as a way to begin their families as soon as practical. Darrel and Martie did
just that and adopted two bundles of joy, first Debbie in 1953 and the following year Doug in 1954. Years later
Martie was able to give birth to two boys, Casey in 1959 and Curt two years later in 1961.

Farming was tough in Darrel’s early years and a growing family necessitated ancillary work, first for the ASCS
office, surveying crops for the federal government and then with the Yuma Post Office in 1969. Darrel’s part time
work with Post Office shortly became full-time, first as a postal clerk and subsequently a letter carrier. During his
tenure with the Yuma Post Office Darrel not only knew all the people but most importantly all of the dogs on his
route! One dog had bonded with Darrel to such a degree that she would wait for him at the post office every
morning to start the route, riding along in the mail truck with Darrel! The dog’s owner recognized this bond and
asked Darrel to take her home to be his own. Susie was one of the best farm dogs to date, loyal, smart and a great
protector. After 21 years of honorable service and acquiring family member in Susie, Darrel retired from the Post
Office.

Working two jobs in two neighboring towns was a near perfect fit for Darrel’s personality. He made lifelong friends
of nearly anyone he was in contact with. Darrel’s amiable demeanor and uncommon approachability are truly
legendary. Darrel was fiscally conservative in the truest sense of the word. He detested waste and found a use for
almost everything. His ability to engineer and repurpose common materials was uncanny. He ensured this practice
of minimizing waste and conservation of resources was passed on to all of his children.
Darrel’s formula for life was simple; uphold the ideals of the Lutheran Church, always speak a kind word and do
unto others as you want done unto you. These practices alongside Darrel’s devout faith in God allowed him a
lifetime of clear conscience and certainly influenced his ultimate longevity. May you rest in peace Darrel William
Minor Stults.

Darrel William Stults passed away in Vernon, Colorado on September 19, 2018.

A Receiving of Family & Friends will be held at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Tim Davis officiating. A Private Family Inurnment will be held in the Glendale Cemetery in Vernon, Colorado.

Memorials may be given to the Calvary Lutheran Church, 518 Dexter Street, Wray, CO 80758.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.