Darrell W. Landau

Jan. 22, 1923 - July 12, 2014

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. -- Always curious and forever learning, Darrell said he was a lucky guy. He said he was fortunate to grow up during the Depression where he had the opportunity to learn from his folks, extended family, wonderful teachers, friends and helpful local businessmen.

Darrell was born Jan. 22, 1923, to Rell F. and Ila A. (Bobbitt) Landau at their home in Oberlin, Kansas. He passed away at his home in Garden Grove, California, on July 12, 2014.

Darrell was the second of four children in his family and was reared in Oberlin. He attended Oberlin Elementary and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1941. After high school, Darrell attended Kansas State University, however, his education was interrupted during WWII. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp, inducted as a private and advanced to obtain his officer engineering training at Yale University. He served as a squadron engineering officer in the 20th Air Force on Guam in charge of B-29 maintenance. After the war, Darrell continued his education and received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University.

In September of 1949, Darrell was united in marriage to Mary Frances Hamilton, daughter of Archie and Lola (Koehler) Hamilton, at First Presbyterian Church. They began their married life in Leoti and Meade, Kansas, where Darrell worked as a civil engineer for the Kansas State Highway Commission. They then moved to Kansas City, Kansas. During this time, Darrell worked as a process engineer with General Motors, building F-84F jets. The couple also became the parents of two daughters, Julia and Monica. Another move took the family to Garden Grove, California, and a son, David, joined the family. Darrell worked for North American Aviation, later called Rockwell International, as an aerospace research engineer for 38 years. There he worked on Guidance and Control for the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles I, II and III.

After retirement, Darrell and Mary also maintained a home in Kansas. Oberlin is the place they always called home. A genuine history enthusiast, Darrell developed a dedicated interest in the Oberlin Museum. Darrell compiled information on the Landau and Bobbitt genealogy way before ancestry.com became popular. He developed a website, www.lanbob.com, with complete histories of his life and that of the 19th Bombardment Group.

Darrell was a member of the American Legion and a Rotarian. He was also a member of the oldest and largest fraternal organization of Freemasons. He was an Honorary Colonel of the American Guerillias of Mindanao. He served as chairman of the board for the 19th Bombardment Association and served for over 20 years as their historian. Darrell enjoyed woodworking and designed and built many beautiful pieces of furniture and other works of art. He designed using computer code, some of the first word processing computer software. He was very interested in the stock market and studied finance and investments. In addition, he developed financial software to determine investment profits and losses. Darrell wrote almost everyday of his adult life. He was the author of "History of the 19 Bombardment Group and Stories: Oberlin and Back." He had a beautiful baritone voice, similar to Bing Crosby and was often found singing or whistling a tune. Darrell was a great storyteller with a fun sense of humor and a great love of dry wit. He seldom missed a play on words or a tickled pun.

His survivors include his wife of almost 65 years, Mary; three children and their spouses, Julia and John Richards of Walnut Creek, California, Monica Landau-Bluff and Brian Bluff of Huntington Beach, California and David Landau and Mary Hickman of San Diego, California; one sister, Marjorie Landau Krisman of Houston, Texas; four step-granddaughters; 10 step-great-grandchildren; three nephews and three nieces; and the Landau and Bobbitt cousins.

Darrell was preceded in death by an infant brother, Rell Jr.; cousin, Vincent Landau, who was as close to him as a brother and who died at the end of WWII; parents, Rell and Ila Landau; and sister, Phyllis Brown.

A service will be on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, at Pauls Funeral Home at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at the Oberlin Cemetery, Oberlin Kansas. A reception will follow at the Decatur County Museum in Oberlin at 12 noon.

Visitation will be Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Paul's Funeral Home in Oberlin. Memorials contributions are suggested in his name to the Decatur County Museum. Visit www.paulsfh.com to leave online condolences for the family.

Pauls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.