Darrell T. Boothe, of Dune Acres, Ind., died Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, after a long battle against Alzheimer's disease.

He was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Greenbriar County, West Virginia to Kelly and Iva Agnes (O'Dell) Boothe, both of whom preceded him in death.

On February 3, 1951, at Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, West Virginia, he married Helen Boothe (nee Gabbert), who survives.

He is also survived by his children Darrell T. (Ted) Boothe, Jr., of Porter, Ind.; Danielle T. Vogedes, of Michigan City, Ind.; Melinda S. (husband Sam) Massette, of Porter and Neil A. Boothe, of Chesterton.

His grandchildren Marissa (Jameel) Abdullah, Michael Martinez, Joshua Boothe and Casey Vogedes survive as do his great-grandchildren Joseph Hardiman, Jameel and Jalen Abdullah and Vance Martinez.

Sonia, a short-haired dachshund, has been his faithful companion through his Alzheimer's.

Darrell graduated from Crighton High School, Greenbriar County, West Virginia, in 1946. He left his parent's 50 acre farm to work at Linde Division of Union Carbide Corp. and start school at Morris Harvey College in Charleston, W.Va. In 1954 he was transferred by Union Carbide to Norfolk, Va., where he was an agent to the military establishment around Hampton Roads. In 1960 he and his family were transferred to Indianapolis, Ind., then in 1963 moved to Dune Acres, Ind.

He purchased Aluminum Welding and Machine Works, on U.S. Hwy. 12, in 1969.

Darrell was an avid golfer and won many tournaments at Long Beach and Sand Creek Country Clubs. He was Club Captain at Sand Creek. In the 1940s he was a semi-pro baseball player with the Industrial League. He was a competitive tennis player and loved to dance with his favorite partner Helen. He enjoyed hunting with friends. He loved playing bridge and gin rummy. He was always supportive of his wife's and his children's civic and political activities.

Darrell has donated his body for organ donation and his brain to the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center of Northwestern University to further scientific research and understanding of Alzheimer's, with hopes for a cure.

A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow, at The Waterbird, 556 Indian Boundary Rd., Chesterton, (located behind the shops on the south side of Indian Boundary Rd.) The gathering will be facilitated by Victoria Ubben, pastor of the 1st Christian Church of Valparaiso, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 E. Superior, Searle 11-453, Chicago, Ill., 60611, to further Alzheimer's research.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, 926-1330.

Posted 2/6/2013