Richard Darmody

Richard A. Darmody, age 90, of Alma, MI died Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis Chapel, St. Louis, MI, with Rev. Melanie Baker officiating. Burial will take place at Elm Hall Cemetery Elm Hall, Michigan. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Richard A. Darmody was born on July 26, 1922 in Alma, MI at the hospital his grandfather built at the location now occupied by the Post Office. His grandfather was Dr. Ira N. Brainerd and the hospital was known in his name as Brainerd Hospital.

Richard graduated from Alma High School in 1941 and attended Alma College for one year before being inducted in the US Army during WWII where he was attached to the 203rd QM (GS) and later to Aberdeen Maryland Proving Grounds where he was involved in determining parallax in captured German range finders. After serving for two years in the Army, he returned to work as a garage mechanic for Gordon Brown at Brown's Auto Electric and where he met his future wife, Joyce Griffin.

Later, in March of 1945, he entered Michigan State University where he received his B.S. Degree in Mathematics. He then accepted a teaching position at Cass City High School in 1949 where he taught for five years. In 1954, he received a M.A. degree in Math Education from M.S.U. and accepted a high school mathematics teaching position at Allen Park High School where he became department chair over a staff of seven. After serving for seven years, he accepted a mathematics teaching position at Ferris State University where he served for twenty three years, attaining the rank of full Professor. During that time, he did graduate work at Case Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Rutgers University. He also had written several papers for publication and a textbook on computer programming.

He was a member of the Alma United Methodist Church and a former Explorer Scout leader. He enjoyed walking, biking, swimming and scuba diving, and reading and writing math programs for his computer.

He is survived by son Robert Darmody, granddaughter Melanie Darmody, 2 grandsons; Jeff and Laurie Darmody and Dennis and Sue Darmody, 8 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Bernice (Brainerd) Darmody, wife Joyce Darmody, daughter Nancy Lee Darmody, son Richard B. Darmody, granddaughter Shelly, great grandson Kenneth and sister Florence.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis Chapel St. Louis, Michigan.

Read Richard Darmody 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.