Darrell Allen Estep

Darrell was born on November 30, 1939, in Ustick, Idaho to Arthur R and Mary Ruth (Cory) Estep. He was the eldest of five siblings: Harold A. (deceased), Virgil A (Darelle) of Puyallup, WA; Paul A (Louise) of near Tahuya; and Lillian R (James) of Arizona.

When Darrell was 2 the family moved to Bremerton, WA. His dad, Arthur, was employed by PSNS as a machinist. His mother, Ruth, was one of the first Tupperware dealers, which kept her busy.

Darrell milked the cows morning and evening, and since the house was heated with wood, he was kept busy chopping down trees, cutting and keeping the wood box filled. He often said, "Mother could burn more wood than anyone I know". He attended South Kitsap schools and graduated from Olympic College where he was on the President's List. He also edited the school annual yearbook.

In his younger years he was active in the Boy Scouts and almost earned his Eagle rank (lacking a mere 3 badges). He also served as Scout Master after his sons became Scouts. He also likes to say he hiked over 200 total miles in the Olympic Mountains. He was proud of the time he took his Troop to Mount Rainier and built snow caves and slept in them.

In 1958 he met his future wife, Helen Jean Ellis at a Camp Meeting in Meridian, Idaho. That same summer he drove down to see her in California where he asked her to be his wife. Because he didn't come prepared for an engagement, Helen's first engagement ring was a Huckleberry Hound ring out of a Crackerjack box. On May 28, 1960, the couple began married life that lasted almost 64 years. The family attended the annual Camp meeting until 1987.

To their union was born five children:
Dwayne Allen (Shauna Endecott)
Shannon Louise Lambert (Steven)
Colleen Diane Larson (Brian)
Donn Eric (Teresa Rice)
Rachel Jones (Rich)

He has nineteen grandchildren and twenty-six (and a half) great grandchildren. Darrell was very proud that all five of their children's marriages remain intact and that they love and serve the Lord.

After graduating from Olympic College, he worked for Boeing as a draftsman. He also taught drafting for Boeing at Olympic College. He got caught in the giant cutback at Boeing (along with over 70,000 others). He applied and was then accepted at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Vocational Education and then a Master's degrees in Education. After graduation he was employed by Olympic College at the Shelton Correction Center and was transferred to the main campus as Director of Engineering and Related Occupations. After ten years he returned to the classroom to teach four different CAD programs, retiring in 1998.

Darrell had as hobbies: archery, woodworking, owned a 30' sailboat, making blankets for various family members, raising beef cattle, gardening, running (ran 5 miles every morning for several years), and making wood cutting boards and boxes. He belonged to Kitsap Antique Tractor Club and loved to participate the tractor pulls.

He helped build the church where his dad pastored until his death. He liked to tell how he and his cousin had to chip out hard pan for the church's septic tank. The first service was held October 1959.

Darrell joined the National Guard when he was 17 and served for eight years, 1957-1965.

He owned a 30' sailboat that he sailed annually into Canada.

He loved: huckleberries, chocolate chip cookies, sailing, ice cream, cars, tractors, working with wood, Bluegrass music but mostly his family. He designed and drafted over 300 houses.

It was Darrell's custom to call each of his five children on Friday nights to give them the Aaronic Blessing. His last Friday night each of his children called him at the hospital and gave him back the blessing.

Darrell passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family, Helen holding his hand and after singing the hymn In the Garden.