Johnnie “J.D.” Darnell
Darnell, 7210
Johnnie “J.D.” Darnell, 72, of Corpus Christi, died on November 23, 2020. He was born on October 30, 1948 in Cotulla to Carl Darnell and Nina Brown Darnell.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brother James Darnell, brother Charles Darnell and sister Linda Boethel.
Johnnie is survived by his wife Valerie Martin, daughter Heather Darnell (Bakari Kamau) of Vienna, Virginia,
brothers and sisters, Bonnie (Chicho) Flores of Houston, Betty Mayes of San Antonio, and Barbara Lawrence of Angleton.
Memorial services will be held on June 24 at 4 p.m. at the Art Center of Corpus Christi, 100 N. Shoreline Blvd, in Corpus Christi and officiated by Sandy Alexander.
J.D. Darnell was a lifelong musician, known for playing fiddle for dance band Sandy’s Six Pack. During his time as an army serviceman in Seoul, Korea (1971-1973), he performed with the Country Variations and received a special commemoration for providing entertainment on base. A graduate of Texas A&I Kingsville in Industrial Arts, J.D. taught shop and technology classes at Hamlin and Cunningham Middle Schools in Corpus Christi for 29 years. He married his wife on July 18, 1980 in Falfurrias.
In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations in J.D.’s name may be made to the Vernacular Music Center at Texas Tech University. Checks can be made payable to Texas Tech Foundation, Inc. and mailed to Box 45025, Lubbock, TX 79409-5025 or on-line at www.give2tech.com.
