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Julius H. Darsey, a resident of Albuquerque since 1946, died peacefully at Presbyterian Hospital on Tuesday, January 7, 2003. Julius was born in Wichita, Kansas on May 26, 1925 the only child of Herman C. and Julia Ellen Darsey. He was raised by his father, a pharmacist and owner of drugstores in several small communities in west Texas and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. He also spent several summers at his grandparents' ranch in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He graduated from high school in Dimmitt, Texas in 1942 and enrolled in West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas. At 18, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was proud of his service in the Eighth Air Force as a top turret gunner flying B-17's. He was stationed at Poddington Air Field in England and flew 18 bombing missions over Germany. Following the end of the war, he was stationed in southern France where he participated in the"Green Project" ferrying former American POW's out of Germany. Julius was discharged from the Air Force in 1946 and returned to New Mexico where he enrolled in the UNM College of Pharmacy in Albuquerque. He graduated in 1950 and purchased his first drug store, the Yucca Drug, on south Carlisle. He served as President of the State Board of Pharmacy from 1960 to 1965. It was during this period that he met and married his wife, Whit Driskill Fanning in 1952. She was the only love of his life; he missed her greatly following her death in 1995. Along with his passion for pharmacy, he had a lifelong dream to attend law school and so in 1966 he sold his drug store and enrolled in the UNM School of Law. Upon graduation, he worked for the State of New Mexico Dept. of Hospitals and Institutions combining his expertise in pharmacy and law. In 1973 he returned to pharmacy opening El Camino Pharmacy, a business he maintained until 1990 when he sold it and worked part-time for Healthsouth. He retired in 1994. He is survived by a daughter, Renee Harris, husband, John and grandchildren John, Karinne, and Natalie of Albuquerque; son, Bill Fanning and wife, Maggie, granddaughter Leigh Fanning of Albuquerque; and great-grandchildren, Connor and Colin; and grandson, William Grove-Fanning and wife, Carrie of San Francisco. He is also survived by a first cousin, Jabe Wills and wife, Cathy and first cousins Jeff and John Lewalling. A Burial Service will take place at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on Monday, January 13, 2003 at 11:00 am. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Kathy Newman of Hope Episcopal Church of Albuquerque. Burial arrangements by Sunrise Funeral Options of Rio Rancho (505) 891-9192.
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