William L Darby

OGDENSBURG JOURNAL, MONDAY, MAR. 26, 1951, page 3

The Rev. William Lambert Darby, LLD, DD, died at the A. Barton Hepburn Hospital early this morning (March 26, 1951). Dr. Darby, 75, was a retired minister of the Presbyterian Church, and resided at 919 Pickering St., with his stepson, Ralph E. Wiber. Funeral services will be held at his residence, 919 Pickering St., Tuesday, 2:30, with burial at Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D. C. on Wednesday. Born Nov. 29, 1875, in Evansville, Ind. Dr. Darby was named for his maternal grandfather, The Rev. William Lambert. His father was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, at that time. A grauate of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1895, he was graduated from the Theological Seminary at Lebanon in 1898. Called to serve as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Mo., he remained there six years, resigning to take up further graduate work at Union Theological Seminary, New York City. In 1906 he became pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Astoria, L. I., where he remained four years. During World War I he served as a YMCA Secretary. Dr. Darby's, major contribution to the ministry was made as the Executive Secretary of the Federation of Churches in Washington, D. C. Called to that position in 1922, shortly after the Federation had been established, he remained its head for the next 18 years. He was instrumental in making the Washington Federation one of the most noteworthy throughout the nation. Retiring from the Federation in 1940, he bcame secretary of the American Bible Society's Washington, office, from which, position ne resigned in the Fall of 1948. Moving to Ogdensburg in November, 1948, Dr. Darby shortly established himself among the local and regional Protestant circles of the .North. Country. A member of St. Lawrence Presbytery, of the St. Lawrence County Ministerial Association, and of the Ogdensburg Ministerial Association, his wisdom and experience were sought by all who made his acquaintance. He was chairman of the Committee on National Missions for the Presbytery, and in that capacity was tireless in directing the welfare of mission churches throughout St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties. As secretary of the Ogdensburg Lenten Committee, Dr. Darby was instrumental in bringing nationally known speakers to the commupnity. It was in fact, his personal acquaintance with religious leaders of all faiths which enabled the local committee to secure most of its outstanding speakers. While residing in Ogdensburg, Dr. Darby served as interim minister of the United Presbyterian Church, Lisbon. He was beloved in that community for his gracious spirit, and his quiet, effective way in leading people. Dr. Darby is survived by his wife, Florence Hughes -Wiber Darby, and by a previous marriage, a son, Paul of Missouri, a daughter, Mrs. Robert Malmo of Montreal, and also by two grandchildren, David and Marjorie Malmo. Members of the family have requested that floral tributes be omitted, with contributions otherwise used in that fashion to be handed to Ward Graves, vicechairman of the Community Lenten Committee. The proceeds will be devoted to the American Red Cross of which Dr. Darby was a former officer.