Darrell Franklin Worthley August 6, 1930 - January 22, 2025

Darrell Franklin Worthley passed away peacefully at home in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.  He was born August 6, 1930, in the farm home in Manyaska Township, Martin County, Minnesota, to Alvin Franklin and Mamie Edith (Gemmill) Worthley.

He attended the country schoolhouse nearby and graduated from Sherburn High School in 1948.  As the youngest of 4 children, he remained on the homestead and began his farming career.  He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Engel in 1952 and raised five children. They also nurtured 13 foster children over several years on the farm. He ceased farming in 1982, moved to Tulsa, OK and worked at ORU/City of Faith as the gardener and later at Christian Chapel as custodian.

He accepted a position in Upperville, VA in 1985 as Manager of the Gardens on the Paul Mellon estate.  He and Betty enjoyed many years in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley visiting museums and battlefields and monuments of early American history.

Following Betty’s passing in 1996 he remained on the estate. He married Rita Carmack in 2000 and retired from the Mellon estate in 2003.  He and Rita relocated to Shipshewana, IN, where he maintained a beautifully landscaped yard, and volunteered as the tour guide at Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum for many years.  In 2021 they moved to Concordia Life Plan Community in Oklahoma City, OK.

In addition to working the soil in farms and gardens, he actively volunteered in every community he lived. He started singing solos at age 5 and sang at hundreds of weddings, funerals, churches, and choirs.  He served in leadership positions on school and church boards. He was a Sunday School teacher, choir director, and mentor.  He was always proud of his faith, family heritage, and his country.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, wife Betty; his siblings & their spouses: Donald & Minnie Worthley; John & Jeanette Worthley; Eva Jean & Vernon Musser. Brother-in-law Edward Malon, nephews Kenneth Worthley and Dana Musser.

He is survived by his wife, Rita; his 5 children: Cynthia (Herb) Jessen in Oklahoma City; Patricia Brown, Novi, MI; Mark (Joann) Worthley, Hinton, OK; Diane (Glen) Ryswyk in Lawton, OK; and David (Boni) Worthley of Virginia Beach, VA; His 12 grandchildren:  David Brown, Daniel (Pam) Brown, Thomas (Leigh) Worthley, Bryan (Sarah) Worthley, Nathaniel (Kaidee) Worthley, Kailey Worthley, Ryan (April) Ryswyk, Sara (Craig) Mellecker, Michael (Brittany) Ryswyk, Megan (Michael) Daubert, Heather (Matthew) Fischer, Preston (Anna) Worthley and Brianna (Nathen) Layman. Step-grandchildren: Kelly (Chad) Knutson and Kim Jessen. Foster grandchildren Raelene (Robert) Miller Mathews and Ragina (Gabe) Segress.

And 19 great-grandchildren:  Lyren, Elin, Gabriel & Laurel Worthley; Asher Worthley; Grace, Garrett, & Abigail Ryswyk; Jack Mellecker; Beau, Margaux, & Millie Ryswyk; Carmen, Brooks, & Ryland Daubert; Jack & Remi Fischer; Parker D Worthley; and Rowan Layman. Step-great-grandchildren: Taylor & Reggie Knutson; and Emma, Thomas, & Sami Jo Stauffenecker. Foster great-grandchildren: Jaxon & Jamison Miller Mathews, and Xavier Thomas.  Sisters-in-law:  Pat (Jerry) Huse, and Anita Malon; 16 nieces & nephews

Rita’s families:  Brothers Arnold Kugler and Jack Kugler; Her children: Star (Pat) St Claire, Lance (Pam) Carmack, Monte (Debbie) Carmack.  Her grandchildren: Dustin (Katie) Dunphy, Kate & Bethany Carmack, Kelsey (Jared) LaRue, Zachary (Gabi) Carmack, Great-grandchildren Aubrey and Conner Dunphy.

The Funeral Service for Darrell will take place on at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 27, 2025, at Buchanan Funeral Service, 8712 N Council Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73132.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Darrell F Worthley Memorial Fund, at Legacy Bank, P O Box 1038, Hinton, OK 73047.