East Aurora Advertiser

Obituary: David Stewart Darling, Mechanical Engineer for Fisher-Price, Cherished Husband and Father


David Stewart Darling

1946 – 2022

David S. Darling of East Aurora died in his home on Wednesday, January 19, surrounded by his family. He was 75.

Mr. Darling was born December 1, 1946, in Little Falls, to the late Stewart (Bud) and Evelyn Darling.

Mr. Darling is survived by his wife, Deb (nee Wolff) Darling; son Michael (Jill) Darling; stepdaughter Jennifer Kuhn; stepson Brian (Kelly) Logel; five grandsons Evanton and Aaronton Darling, Alex Kuhn, and Blake and Brayden Logel; sister Melaine (Tom) Paatz of Dolgeville; brother Don (Diana) Darling of Salisbury Center; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

In addition to his parents, Mr. Darling was predeceased by his sister Marilyn E. Darling.

Mr. Darling grew up in Stratford, where he attended Dolgeville High School and Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. He transferred to University at Buffalo and graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1969.

Those who knew Mr. Darling knew what an extraordinary man he was. He worked at Fisher-Price, a job he loved, as a mechanical engineer for almost 30 years. Throughout his career, he developed numerous toys such as FP Kitchen, Little People Castle, FP Space Tops, FP Play Family Garage, and FP Trike. However, he was most proud of the FP Adventure People Alpha Star Space Vehicle. In 1983, this toy was rated number one in Canada by the Canadian Toy Testing Council. Mr. Darling was also involved in the production of many commemorative Toy Fest toys.

Mr. Darling enjoyed a number of hobbies including scuba diving, RC planes and cars, rockets, photography, building a 1937 Jaguar SS-100 from a kit, restoring his unique collection of Fiats, and home renovations. He especially loved spending time with his five grandsons skipping rocks, looking for crayfish, and creek walking. As the grandsons grew, he enjoyed attending their football, baseball, and soccer games.

Arrangements were completed by Wood Funeral Home, 784 Main St., East Aurora.

Memorial visitation will be held Sat, April 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, where a memorial service will be held immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Aurora Adult Daycare of East Aurora by visiting auroraadultdayservices.org/donate/ or to the Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora, by mailing to 24 Paine St., East Aurora, NY, 14052 or by visiting www.bgcea.org

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