Darwin Wayne Mara's Obituary
MARA, DARWIN WAYNE passed away at age 97 on July 3, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. He was born October 2, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois to Frank Francis Mara and Mary Pecha. Darwin had a passion for music from the age of 10 playing the saxophone. He also played the clarinet in the marching band at Crane Tech High School. He played saxophone as a professional musician in dance bands in the 1930s. He began a 40 year career at Western Electric in 1941 at the Hawthorn Works in Chicago. He worked his way from a position as a wireman to a section chief in the quality assurance department. He was transferred to the Columbus, Ohio facility in 1957 to set up the quality assurance program and became the department chief of QA three years later. In 1969 he was asked to transfer to the newly created Dallas plant to help set up the QA program there. He retired from AT&T, the successor to Western Electric, in 1981. Darwin was an ardent admirer of Abraham Lincoln and Marilyn Monroe. He was fond of saying that he was not sure whether there were any descendants of Marilyn Monroe to be contacted, but that any descendants of Abraham Lincoln could be reached at his Gettysburg Address. He was preceded in death by Bernice Mara nee Malek, his wife of 54 years, and by Rollo A. Mara, his older brother. Darwin is survived by his four children and his younger brother, Warren F. Mara. His four children and their spouses are:Arlene Alexander and husband, Dan; Phyllis Eschleman and husband, Mike;Glenn Mara and wife, Beth; and Nancy Faerber and husband, Chuck. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and their spouses and 15 great grandchildren: Danny and Lisa Alexander, and sons, Neil and Conrad; Paul and Rachel (Blistein) Alexander, and daughters Kyla and Maya; Tom Eschleman; Karen and Charles Smith; David and Shelley Eschleman, son, Brayden, and daughter Evielynne; Kristen and Tom Nolan, and sons, Morgan and Micah Darwin; Kevin Eschleman; Nathan and Tara Mara, and children, Keller, Joshua, Kathryn, and Jason; Andy and Chloe Mara, and daughters, Cadence and Madeline; Kathryn Mara; Nick and Taylor Faerber, and son, Brody; Michael Faerber; and Kelly Faerber. On Thursday, July 10 there will be a Visitation from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. On Friday, July 11 a recitation of the Rosary will be held at 9:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dallas, Texas, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM with interment at 1:00 PM at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.
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