Robert Wayne "Toby" Darrah, 82, passed peacefully at Good Samaritan Village on Feb. 21, 2012, after a four-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Lyons, Kan., to Clarence F. and Minnie Darrah.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 17th and Main Street, Hutchinson, with Reverend Jim Rhaesa officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment will be in the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons, Kan.

A 1947 graduate of Lyons High School, Lyons, Kan., he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 9, 1951. Staff Sergeant Darrah was honorably discharged Jan. 8, 1955. Following his service in the Air Force, Toby was an apprentice machinist at Lyons Manufacturing Co., Lyons, Kan., and left as Marketing Manager after 18 years. From 1973 to 1983, he was employed at Cessna Fluid Power, Hutchinson, Kan., as Materials Manager. He was Procurement Manager for New Programs and Product Support until his retirement from Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, Kan., having worked there from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Darrah held a private pilot's license, a commercial license and was Instrument Flight Rated.

On May 20, 1951, he and Norma Jean Coonfer were married in Gulfport, Miss. Mr. and Mrs. Darrah celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year.

Their children are: Kay L. (Bill) Pedersen of Ottawa, Kan., Dr. Mark W. (Karen) Darrah of Hutchinson, and Jill S. Darrah of San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren, Alison S. Brimblecom of Lawrence, Kan., William Michael Pedersen of Ottawa, Kan., Erica (Josh) Henion of Hutchinson, Kan., and Briana (Ryan) Courtright of Manhattan, Kan.; great-grandchildren, Easton Henion, Cohen Henion, both of Hutchinson, and Celia Mae Courtright of Manhattan, Kan.; a niece, Carolyn (Darrah) Ring of Manhattan, Kan.; and a nephew, Robert Lee Darrah of Blue Valley, Mo.; and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Glen, Hobart and Emmitt; and sisters, Virginia Neumann and Helen VanVleet. Mr. Darrah served on several committees at the First Methodist Church in Lyons, Kan., Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, Kan., and at ViewPoint Fellowship Church in Mesa, Ariz., where he and Mrs. Darrah spent 12 winters after retiring.

Toby was a faithful and active member of the Doers class at Trinity UMC. He was a former member of the Lyons Town and Country Club and Prairie Dunes Country Club of Hutchinson. He was also a member of the Hummers men's golf group at ViewPoint R.V. and Golf Resort at Mesa, Ariz. He was a proud holder of two Hole-in-One certificates. When he was 67, he shot a 75 on the Prairie Dunes golf course. He enjoyed hunting at the Southwest Hunting Club, now Quivera Wildlife Refuge and the Ninniscah Men's Recreation Association. Upon retirement, Toby and other retired friends met each Wednesday at the Hutchinson Town Club for lunch and to solve the world's problems. They referred to themselves as the YOGS (Young Old Guys).

Suggested memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, Kan., First Methodist Church, Lyons, Kan., or the ALS Association, Keith Worthington Chapter, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.