FORT WORTH – Raymond Leon Darrow, age 88, passed from this life on June 5, 2026.When people hear the term “Renaissance man,” they may think of figures such as Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo. Raymond embodied that same spirit in his own unique way. In addition to his wide range of interests and extraordinary talents, he was one of the kindest, most joyful people ever to walk this planet. His legacy lives on in numerous ways, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him will treasure their time with him and the example he set. Raymond lived life to the fullest, which has stood as important reminder and inspiration to us all to do the same. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 10, 1937, Raymond began to demonstrate his generous spirit even as a child, being featured in a local newspaper for giving his toys away to children who needed them before he received new toys at Christmas. His natural athletic talent was also evident as he excelled in basketball, football, and tennis while growing up in Forth Worth and Sonora, Texas. When his parents were assigned to live in Asuncion, Paraguay, during Raymond’s high school years, he learned to salsa in order to meet the young women there, becoming a lifelong, fabulous, show-stopping dancer. As a teenager in Paraguay, he went into a movie theater only to come out and hear gunfire and people shouting ‘Revolucíon!’. He reacted by simply going back in and watching a second showing of the movie. At Texas A&M, Raymond’s exceptional integrity and work ethic earned him the nickname “Straight-Arrow Darrow.” He studied architecture, was First Group Commander, and met the love of his life, Carol Gentry, on a blind date and married her on June 10, 1961. He served his term in the United States Air Force in Syracuse, New York, and Bitburg, Germany, where their first child, Melinda, was born. They returned to Fort Worth, where their second child, Stephen, was born and where Raymond practiced architecture for fifty years. He specialized in school construction in addition to many other projects including church architecture and country club remodeling. He designed an exquisite columbarium and was responsible for all the expansions at his beloved St. Christopher Episcopal Church. He established his own firm and Stephen, also an architect, practiced with him. Raymond loved the organic architecture style and, in his 30s, designed and built a unique cantilevered home for his family in Fort Worth, where nothing of the like existed before. He was Cowtown’s own version of Frank Lloyd Wright–his home was even featured in Building Ideas Magazine in 1974. Raymond always stayed busy, serving in numerous capacities at St. Christopher and playing numerous sports throughout his life–usually winning tournaments in tennis, golf, and skiing. He loved snow and water skiing, teaching his children and all their friends how to water ski on Possum Kingdom Lake. His analytical architect’s mind was complemented by his truly magnificent artistic talent. He painted in watercolor, drew in pen and ink, and created sculptures and figure drawings. While others took photos on vacation, he drew and painted the sights–many of which were destinations reached by his own airplane that he piloted himself. He said he “had jet fuel in his blood,” and flew “Darrow airlines, where we never lose your luggage.” to California, Colorado, and many other destinations. Only a month before his passing, he said he wished he still had his airplane. In addition to all these aptitudes and skills, Raymond was known to many as the best joke teller they knew. He was invited to parties to tell jokes, which he cataloged on index cards in a file. He was invited onstage by comedian Yakov Smirnov in Branson, Missouri after telling the best joke of anyone in the audience. But above all, he was so very kind, treating everyone with genuine respect and interest in their lives, and many restaurant servers in Fort Worth absolutely adored him, lighting up and exclaiming when he came through the door. His warmth drew everyone to him, including animals and children, whom he entertained as successfully as he told jokes to adults. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Helen Darrow; his wife, Carol; and his grandparents, aunts, and uncles who adored him. He is survived by daughter, Melinda Darrow and wife, Jennifer Price; son, Stephen Darrow and wife, Konnie; grandchildren, Gregory Darrow and wife, Sanna Kissee, Anna Naim and husband, Zev Stampfer, and a large extended family of cousins, in-laws, and dear friends. A visitation will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Greenwood Funeral Home in Memorial Suite B, 3344 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Greenwood’s Live Oak Chapel, 3100 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park and a reception will take place in Greenwood’s Live Oak Room from 1 – 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to First Tee of Fort Worth, where Raymond volunteered for years, would be welcomed. We know he and Carol are already dancing on the other side… and perhaps even chatting with da Vinci. GREENWOOD FUNERAL HOME Greenwood Funeral Homes – Cremation 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-336-0584

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