Robert Harry Darling (1907-1969)

By – Don Taylor

This is probably the most intimidating biography I have
written so far. Most if the time I know more about the individual I am writing
about than anyone else so it is easy. In the case of Robert Harry Darling.
Because Harry died in 1969, many people remember him and may have different
opinions of him and his history. I will do my best to be impartial regarding a complicated
man who lived a complicated life. If anyone, particularly his descendants, have
any different information or any anecdotal information regarding him, please
share it with me though the comment sheet below or directly to my email. In any
event, I will certainly welcome additional insight into the man.

Even Robert Harry Darling’s birth has some mystery. He was
clearly born on 18 August 1907, but it is unclear where. Most documents
indicate he was born in Pittsburgh, PA, however, there are several key
documents which indicate he was born in New Kensington, Westmoreland, County,
Pennsylvania, which is a town about 20 mile up the Allegheny river from
Pittsburgh. I believe he was born in New Kensington.

I haven’t found anything to suggest that Robert Harry’s
father, Rufus Harry Darling was ever in the picture. When Harry was only two
years old, the 1910 census shows Harry living with his mother and sister as roomers
in the home of Robert & Emma Hennig at 3319 Ward Street, in Pittsburgh[1]. The
house still stands today. 

Harry’s mother died when Harry was five years old on 11 July
1913. Apparently, Rufus’ father wasn’t interested in taking on the
responsibility of the Harry and his sister Elizabeth. In any event, Harry went
to live with his grandmother, Margaret McAllister. When Harry was eight, (August,
1915) his grandmother took him and his sister to England. It must have been a
scary time for the eight year old. The Titanic disaster was only a few years before
and England was involved in World War One. The U-Boats were hunting and the
Lusitania had been sunk earlier in May. The saving grace was the ship they
sailed on was probably of United States registry and the US had not entered the
way yet.

Harry was in England from Sep 1915 until 1916 and attended
school while there. The three of them returned to the states aboard the SS
Philadelphia, which arrived in New York on 23 December 1916[2] and
were probably to their residence in Brookline borough, Pittsburgh, PA by
Christmas.

Harry’s father, Rufus, died on 5 June 1917 when Harry was
only 9 years old. An orphan at nine, Harry continued to live with his
grandmother at 411 Arlington, Street in Pittsburgh[3].

Robert Harry married Nora Adaline Glies on 10 Aug 1926 in Wellsburg,
Brooke, West Virginia[4]. This
would have been a week before his 19th birthday, so it is unclear
why he apparently lied about his age for the marriage. In any event, his
marriage license indicated he was born in 1905 making him nearly 21. Also, this
is one of the very few documents that indicates he was born in New Kensington,
PA and not Pittsburgh. He and Nora divorced sometime in 1927. There is no known
issue from that marriage.

In 1929, Robert Harry married Florence Wilma Huber. They rented
an apartment in a four-plex at 110 North Fremont Ave. in Pittsburgh. A building
that stands today. In July of 1930, they had their only child, a daughter. Florence died 05
Oct 1934 of bilateral pyosalpinx and pelvic cellulitis, cause undetermined. It
isn’t clear to me when his daughter from Florence went to live with her
grandparents on her mother’s side, John & Bertha Huber, but certainly sometime between
1940 and 1943.

On September 30, 1938, Harry married Mae (or May) Ada Reno in
Pittsburgh, PA[5]. They
quickly had three children the first one in June 1939, another in August 1940,
and the third one in August 1941. The 1940 Census finds the family, Robert,
wife Mae, and two daughters (one by Florence and one by Mae) living at 915
Fordham St., Pittsburgh, PA[6]. Later in 1940, Robert’s first son, Robert Harry Darling, Jr. was born, and in
1941, another girl was born.

The United States entered World War II in December 1941. It
isn’t clear why, but it is my speculation that Robert and May were divorced in
1943, which would have made him eligible for the draft. Thus, nearly two years
after the war began, on 23 November 1943, Robert Harry enlisted in the US Navy for two years. He served at NAVTRACEN San Diego and
USNHosp San Diego, CA.

Robert Harry Darling was a tall man, 6’0″, 155lbs, Blue
eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. He was discharged well before the war
ended, in September 1944. He appears to have married Florence Drexl about that
time and the two stayed in San Diego where their two children, a girl and a
boy, were born in 1945 and 1946 respectively.

Sometime between 1946 and 1951, Harry, and presumably
Florence, moved to Detroit, Michigan area, possibly to Mount Clemens. In 1965,
Harry was living at 34546 Jefferson, Mount Clemens. On 6 November 1967, Harry’s
son, Robert Harry Darling, Jr., died in Vietnam.

Robert Harry Darling died on 22 Jan 1969, in Wayne,
Michigan, USA of Pseudomonas septicemia due to chronic lymphatic leukemia at
the age of 61. At the time of his death, he was divorced from Florence although
when that divorce occurred I have not found. Harry is buried at Cadillac Memorial
Gardens, East, in Mount Clemens, Michigan. 

  

Note: There is family legend that Harry had another child,
named “Dee Dee” or possibly Diana about 1940. It is unknown if this child was
born out of wedlock or between the marriage to Florence Wilma and May Reno.
More research is needed on this topic.

I thought about Robert Harry Darling a lot yesterday, which
was the 107th anniversary of his birth.

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