Dr. R. Parnell

Darrell Ray Parnell was born in Topeka, KS, on October 15, 1934 to Ray Forest and Veta Izadel (Waychoff) Parnell. As a young boy he developed a desire to teach that he followed the rest of his life. Although his boyhood home was lost in the Kansas River flood of 1951, he remained with his family in Topeka, graduating from Topeka High School ('52) and Washburn University (BS Cum Laude in Physics, '56). While at Washburn, he met and fell deeply in love with his future wife, Esther Marion (Curry) Parnell from Winchester, KS, who was attending the Stormont-Vail School of Nursing. They were married on August 10, 1956.

Darrell was a member of the Air Force R.O.T.C. and was commissioned in the US Air Force Reserves following graduation from Washburn. He served 4 years as a research scientist in Concord, MA, achieving the rank of Captain. Following military service, Darrell returned to Washburn to take up the teaching vocation he loved. He was employed as an Instructor in the Physics and Astronomy Department in 1962 and worked there until his retirement in 2005, achieving the rank of Associate Professor and Chair. While teaching he pursued higher education, receiving a Masters in Physics ('63) and a PhD in University Level Science Education ('74), both from Kansas State University.

Darrell's life was deeply marked by his Christian faith. He and Esther joined the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church when they moved back to Topeka in 1962. He served as an elder for 53 years and remained an active member until his death. He combined his love of the Lord and his love of science, especially astronomy, by opening the Washburn observatory and planetarium to the public, and by teaching how "the heavens declare the glory of God" to many civic, church, and youth gatherings.

Darrell passed away peacefully on March 7, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Don and Dale Parnell. He is survived by his wife, Esther, his five children, 17 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. His children are Ray Parnell (Sandi) of Topeka, KS; Sandra Learned (Alan) of Powhatan, VA; Bruce Parnell (Vicky) of Stillwater, OK; Jonathan Parnell (Lisa) of Lawrence, KS; and Stephen Parnell (Sarah) of Shawnee, KS.

Darrell's funeral will be held on Friday, March 18th at 1 p.m. at the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church (8345 SW 33rd St, Topeka, KS) with burial in the Winchester, KS Reformed Presbyterian Church cemetery afterwards. A public visitation will be held at Penwell-Gabel Midtown (1321 SW 10th, Topeka, KS) on Thursday, March 17 from 5-7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the THS Historical Society (thshistoricalsociety.org), the PKD Foundation (pkdcure.org), the Washburn University Foundation and designated to the Physics and Astronomy Department (wualumni.org/givenow), or to the Reformed Presbyterian Missions and Ministry Fund (7408 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208), in memory of Darrell Parnell.

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