Charles J. Darnell, 88, of Devens, Massachusetts, and formerly of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Devens. A prayer service will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Smith Funeral Home with Rev. John Epperson officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Interment will be in the veterans section of Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Charles was born on July 9, 1928, in Medina, Ohio to Robert and Georgia Jackson Darnell. He was raised in the Cleveland area and attended public schools. In 1945, he entered the U.S. Marines Corp and served his country until his discharge in 1947. Charles and his family lived in Ohio and Wyoming and worked as an engineer for a rail road company for ten of those years. In 1984, he moved to Grinnell, Iowa worked for Bates Flowers. He was a member of the American Legion and served as chaplain for the Grinnell Eagles Club. Survivors include his daughter, Nancy Darnell-Fyock of Parma, Ohio; three sons, Charles Darnell Jr. of Parma Heights, Ohio, Michael Darnell of Middleburg Heights, Ohio and Theodore Darnell of Colorado; eight grandchildren; and one great grandson. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Frank; and two brothers, Robert and Don Darnell.