Plan for the Future
Darrell Bozarth passed peacefully in his sleep on October 15, 2022, at the age of 88, with his daughter Janice by his side. Darrell served in the US Army for nearly three decades, retiring from Ft Monmouth in NJ as a Master Sergeant. He entered the military in 1952 for opportunity and travel, shortly after graduating from Owensboro Catholic High School. He became a parachutist with the 11th Airborne to earn an extra $50 a month, which was half his pay in the early 1950’s! He jumped out of the “flying boxcars” in the US and Germany and even learned to ski while on maneuvers in Norway. Darrell loved a new job and opportunity every 2-3 years – meeting new people, learning fresh skills, adapting to a foreign culture. He was stationed in Germany for 4 tours, accompanied by his wife, Anna Margaret of New Hope, KY and their three daughters Janice, Jean(ie) and Mary. Darrell served in Korea in 1961 and Vietnam in 1967 and 1971. After retiring from the service, Darrell worked for Telos, CSC, and First Atlantic Federal Credit Union.
Throughout his life Darrell was often found with his nose buried in a book. As a toddler, his youngest daughter Mary would sit next to him on the couch pretending to read. He was close with Mary’s husband Gerard, their son Riley, and Gerard’s extended family. Darrell and the family travelled throughout Europe and trekked across the US numerous times, often in a VW without air conditioning! The joy of travel continued in his later years on road trips with his middle daughter Jeanie, including picking up his red convertible from the Mercedes plant in Stuttgart, Germany. Darrell enjoyed many summers at the playground and shore with his eldest daughter Janice and his grandchildren Kyle and Erika. Darrell’s best friend in his last years was our dog Winston, a 10-year-old wire-haired terrier, Chihuahua mix that we adopted from Bloomfield Animal Shelter.
Darrell was a positive, open, friendly man who “didn’t know a stranger” – he treated everyone as a new found friend. While he had multiple medical issues later in life, he didn’t let those setbacks or roadblocks stand in his way of living life to the fullest. People often said he was one tough old bird or a cat with more than 9 lives!
Darrell’s wife “Margie” of 55 years predeceased him by 10 years. We believe she was waiting at the gates uttering “Finally, what took you so long?” Darrell is survived by his three daughter’s Janice Bozarth, Jean Bozarth and Mary Trafford, his son-in-law Gerard Trafford, grand-children Kyle Matwey and his wife Monet Matwey, Erika Matwey and Riley Trafford, great grandchildren Liam Matwey and Olivia Matwey and step great grandchild Malaya Villacorte. Darrell is survived by his younger sister Barbara McKinney and her husband Ron McKinney, niece Lisa Vanderpool and nephew Rich McKinney. His eldest sister Charlene Pruneda predeceased him, while he is survived by her daughter Patricia Torres and her husband Roland Torres and their son Michael Torres. Darrell also remained close to his cousins Shirley Rummage, Judy Gray, Auda Wink, Pat O’Bryan (deceased) and his wife Nancy O’Bryan, and to his wife Margie’s immediate family Libby and Bill Palmer, Mary and Ted Moczulski, Agnes and Tommy Mattingly, Sonny and Joyce Morris, Kenny Morris and Dave Medley.
A visitation will be held on Friday, October 21, 2022 from 4pm to 8pm at Bradley-Braviak Funeral Home, 49 Whippany Rd, Whippany. On Saturday, October 22, a visitation will begin at 9am prior to a funeral mass that will begin at 11am at St. Virgil’s Parish, 250 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains, NJ. Following the mass, a buffet lunch will be held at the Watnong VFW Post 3401, 45 Tabor Rd, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. Darrell’s burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials in Darrell’s name can be made to any of the following organizations that were important to him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Darrell’s favorite charities:
1. Fischer House Foundation / Walter Reed National Naval Medical Center (NSA Bethesda) House – a charity and foundation that builds comfort homes where military & veterans families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital.
Mailing address: Fischer House Foundation Inc, PO Box 791598, Baltimore, MD 21279
Website for donations: https://connect.fisherhouse.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1
2. Project Sanctuary – changing how military families heal. Project Sanctuary believes that when one person serves, the whole family serves. Through our counselors, social workers and recreation therapists we are one of the only organizations that supports not just the veteran, but the whole family, to create multigenerational change toward positive healthy habits for at-risk military families.
Mailing address: Project Sanctuary, PO Box 1563, Granby, CO 80446
Website for donations: https://projectsanctuary.us/donate/
3. Bloomfield Animal Shelter (Winston was adopted from BAS) – Bloomfield Animal Shelter/John A Bukowski Shelter for Animals is a no-kill animal shelter managed by the Township of Bloomfield. The shelter has many types of dogs and cats available for adoption. We treat every animal as an individual, regardless of breed or background.
Mailing address: Supporters of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter, PO Box 241, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Website for donations: http://bloomfieldshelter.com
4. National Museum of the United States Army / Army Historical Foundation (AHF) – The mission of The AHF is to honor the American Soldier by preserving and presenting the history and heritage of the United States Army.
Mailing address: National Museum of the United States Army, PO Box 96281, Washington, DC 20090-6281
Website for donations: https://armyhistory.org/donate/
