Darrell Rader

Darrell Rader, 81, of New Windsor, died on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at Brinton Woods. Born September 4, 1939 in Pembroke, VA, he was the son of the late Bruce Rader and Mary Wood Rader.

Survived by his son Corey Rader and wife Wendy Cornish Rader, and his daughter Casey Rader; favorite daughter Barbara Holmes Ballard, sister-in-law Bonnie Wilcox, nephew Joshua Wilcox and wife Susan; great-nephew Kyle James and a host of other nieces and nephews too numerous to list here.

He was predeceased by his wife Carol Bray Rader; sisters Donetta Stables, Dorthalene Litchford, Delourous Porterfield and Dolly Bridges; brothers Dolan Rader and Dodrel Rader.

After leaving high school, Darrell spent 5 years in the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Drum in upstate New York for a time, he met his future wife, Carol Bray Rader. After 5 years in the Army, he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant, a drill sergeant to be exact. This will surprise no one who knew him, even briefly.

Following his stint in the Army, he and Carol were married and shortly after moved to Maryland where he began work at Rockville Crushed Stone, Inc. working many jobs, eventually rising to the position of maintenance foreman during his 30 years there. He would move on to work another 12 years with F. O. Day before retiring at 62.

He spent his retirement hunting and fishing with lifelong and new friends and generally barely behaving himself. In recent times, he was best friends with his recliner and the Western channel. He had an arsenal of groan-inducing Dad jokes and he was known for his quick smile, his generous heart, and complete lack of guile. He will be missed terribly.

Conditions allowing, a memorial service will be planned for the spring of this year. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or other Alzheimer’s or dementia prevention efforts in Darrell’s name.

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