GREENFIELD — The Rev. Franklin A. Darling, 87, of Elm Terrace, died Monday (11-7-11) at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
He was born in Orleans on June 19, 1924, the son of the late Nathan and Bertha (Childs) Darling. He attended local schools in Orleans and graduated from Orleans High School in 1942. Also, he graduated from Guilmant Organ School in New York City in 1944 and from Carroll College in Nashotah, Wis., in 1948. He attended the Montford Seminary in Litchfield, Conn., from 1953 to 1958 and was ordained on Dec. 20, 1958 in Saint Anthony Church in Litchfield by the Most Rev. Henry J. O'Brien, D.D., Bishop of Hartford.
Father Darling was a teacher at the Montfort Preparatory Seminary in Bay Shore, N.Y., and then became editor and director of Montfort Publications.
He was an assistant pastor of Holy Name Church in Springfield, St. Joseph Church in Shelburne Falls, Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church and Blessed Sacrament Church, both in Springfield, and St. Patrick Church in Chicopee.
Between assignments, he served as chaplain for the former Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague City and the Newman chaplain for Western New England College in Springfield.
Father Darling was the pastor of Holy Family Church in Springfield from 1979 to 1985 and Holy Trinity Church in Greenfield from 1985 until his retirement in 1998.
He served on the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Deanery Board of Franklin County and had been the dean of the Franklin County Deanery. Also, he was chaplain of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 2011.
Father Darling loved to play the organ.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews; his goddaughter, Marguerite Green of the state of Florida; many dear friends and parishioners and also his dear friends in England.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Chester and Warren Darling.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in Holy Trinity Church, 133 Main St., with the Most Rev. Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, principal celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. His body will lie in state in Holy Trinity Church on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a vigil service at 7.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Holy Trinity Church Renovation Fund, 133 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301.