Larry A Darda

Larry Alan Darda

Larry was born May 28, 1941 in Chicago, IL . He grew up at 6541 S. Winchester Avenue in Chicago, IL. He graduated from O’Toole Grade School in 1955 and graduated from Harper High School in 1959. Larry was in the ROTC in High School, and he played the trumpet. 

After high school, Larry attended the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1963. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi (The Engineering Honor Society), and Eta Kappa Nu (A prestigious society that recognizes academic excellence in the field of electrical and computer engineering). He was named distinguished military graduate and commissioned upon completion of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He entered the Air Force in February 1964 and continued his education during his service. In 1964, he graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio with his master’s degrees in electrical engineering and Solid-State Physics.

In 1976, he graduated from Auburn University with a master’s degree in Political Science. While in Alabama, he was also in the Air University’s Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base. In 1977, he graduated with what would be the equivalent of a master’s degree in business administration from Air War College. He completed all of his course work for his Doctoral Degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign but was unable to finish his thesis due to being called to work on a U. S. defense project. While in the Air Force, he worked in the area of Nuclear Weapons Effects, specifically the survivability of satellites through system design, analysis and testing. He retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service in March of 1983 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

After he retired from the Air Force, he went to work in the civilian sector and worked for Hughes Aircraft as the chief scientist in the Nuclear Weapons Area from 1983 until 1993. When he left Hughes Aircraft, he took a position as a consultant for Jaycor. His role there was also as chief scientist in the Nuclear Weapons Area and he consulted on projects for Hughes Aircraft, as well as the Air Force. He retired from Jaycor in 1999.

He has been an avid reader, and his interests have included psychology, philosophy, history, economics, and investing. He has also had an interest in cars and auto cross racing. He belonged to several auto racing clubs and enjoyed working on cars in his free time. Throughout his military service he was stationed in Dayton, OH; Rome, NY; Champaign, IL; Montgomery, AL; and Albuquerque, NM. While he grew up in Chicago, during his civilian career he lived in the Los Angeles, California area. He returned to Illinois after he retired. Larry never married. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank E. and Velma (nee Guerrieri) Darda. He is survived by his sister, Deanna (nee Darda) (Norman) Wilken ; his two nieces and their husbands, Cari (nee Wilken) (Rick) Dudich and Marcy (nee Wilken) (Lee) Remm his seven great nieces and nephews- Jackson Remm, Hallie Remm, Abigail Dudich, Julianna Dudich, MacKenzie Remm, Alexander Dudich and Jennavieve Dudich; and his one great-great nephew-Thomas O’Donnell. A visitation will be held at Kurtz Memorial Chapel 65 Old Frankfort Way Frankfort, IL on Sunday September 15, 2024 from 4-8pm. Chapel service will be the following morning at the funeral home at 10am, Interment with full military honors at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, IL promptly at 12pm.