Diana Lynn Darling

Diana Lynn Darling was born in Mattoon, Illinois to Roy and Helen Stretch on October 16, 1958. She passed away on July 11, 2008 in Mesquite, Texas. Diana is survived by her husband Robert Darling, sons: Geoff Darling and Christopher Darling; mother, Helen Stretch (Campbell); father, Roy Stretch; Sister, Kim Graf and nephews, Andrew Graf and Kevin Graf. She was a loving mother and a wonderful wife. She loved to cook large meals and be very hospitable, loved serving others by providing meals. She educated her children at home. Diana was always cheerful, positive, and optomistic. She had a tendency to "dream big". She always was compassionate and showed concern for others that were hurting. Always loved to learn new things and was very inquisitive "she asked tough questions". A Single Thread On October 16, 1958 a bouncing baby girl Diana Lynn was gifted to Helen Juanita and Roy Franklin Stretch in Mattoon, Illinois where she spent her early years. Her sister Kimberly Sue was born just before her family moved to Southhaven, Mississippi near Memphis, Tennessee. They then moved to central Florida just north of Orlando, Florida where she graduated from Apopka High School. Diana went on to major in Business at the University of South Florida in Tampa Florida. While at USF Diana joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity based on the principles of the Boy Scouts of America. She served as vice-president and then as president of APO's Tau Mu chapter where she met her future husband. On September 12, 1981 she happily became Diana Lynn Darling a blushing bride for Robert Edward Darling in Temple Terrace a suburb of Tampa, Florida. On July 6, 1982 she became a proud mother with the birth of her first boisterous son Geoffrey Edward Darling in Tampa, Florida. She and her husband then moved to Lake Gem, Florida and helped her parents with their sub-sandwich shop in Eustis, Florida. In 1984 she and her husband moved to Mesquite near Dallas, Texas where on April 23, 1985 she had her second son Christopher Robert Darling. As her sons grew up she became a Den Leader and Committee Chairman for Cub Scout Pack 1042. During her tenure as Chairman she started to publish a monthly newsletter for the pack and as her sons moved on into Boy Scouts she published a newsletter for the troop.When she started home-schooling her two sons she continued her interest in bringing and keeping the group together by publishing monthly newsletters for the Casa View Homeschool Group and the Mesquite Homeschool Group. She loving supported both her sons as they as they became Eagle Scouts and completed their high school education under her direction. At Faith Baptist Church in Mesquite she organized a group for women and young ladies to learn crocheting to make booties and blankets for Dallas Pregnancy Center. At Faith Baptist Church she also got interested in women's bible study programs and organized her first women's study group. When she moved on to Household of Faith in Garland, Texas she took with her the enthusiasm to lead women in Bible Study Programs. She dreamed big, sometimes larger than she and those around her could accomplish, but that never daunted her sprit. She challenged her husband and those around her with her questions and projects. She followed that inner voice that led her on many times out of step with the world around her. She is but a single beautiful thread woven into God's tapestry of life where she touches many others. She leaves behind her parents, sister, two nephews, a husband, two sons and many friends. There will be a graveside service at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at New Hope Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday evening, July 15, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A MemorialService will be held at the Central Christian Church, 4711 Westside Drive, Dallas, Texas 75209.