David Darst 1881-1950

David Darst (1881-1950), the son of John Jacob Darst (1850-1886); the son of David Sterling Hughes Darst (1821-1906); the son of Jacob Calloway Darst (1793-1836); the son of David Darst (1757-1826); the son of Abraham Derst (1725-1772), our Pfeddersheim immigrant ... ended his own life.

Suicide Suspected

In Local Shooting

A 69-year-old San Angelo shoe repairman died at 5:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon about five or six hours after a bullet from a .38 revolver crashed into his left temple.

David Darst, gun beside him, was discovered about 12:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon in his shoe shop at 1013 N. Chadbourne by his son, Norman Darst.

Police who investigated the shooting called it suicide.

Norman Darst, the son, who resides at 61 E. 16th St. said his father "had been worried about his business."

Darst had not been ill or despondent, his son reported.

For several years the elder Darst operated Darst Shoe Service at 1124 W. Beauregard. He had moved the shop to the North Charbourne address about two months ago because "his lease was too high," the son explained.

Darst and his wife, Selma, resided at 123 S. Archer.

Norman Darst said his father always came to his shop early on Sunday mornings to "read his paper and clean the place up."

"I visited with him a while Sunday morning," the younger Darst said. "He didn't say anything about his business worries then."

Darst continued that he then went to his own place of business and returned about 12:45 to find his father. Norman Darst is superintendent for the Concho Valley Pecan Co., 1615 Live Oak.

The son then called a Cox ambulance and police. Mr. Darst died in a local hospital. Norman Darst said he believed his father had been "shot for some time before I found him."

Mr. Darst was born Jan. 9, 1881 in Gonzales, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Darst, both natives of that city. His great-great grandfather perished in the Alamo.

At the age of five, Darst moved to San Angelo with his parents in 1886. Since that time he had resided in San Angelo, Mertzon, and Barnhart. He was a member of the Oddfellows lodge at Sherwood.

Services are to be conducted at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the Cox Chapel with the Rev. Morris Elliott of the Immanuel Episcopal Church officiating.

Burial is to be in Fairmount.

Survivors include the widow; one daughter, Kalleta Darst and the son of San Angelo; two sisters, Mrs. C. C. Jones and Mrs. Kaleta Herne, both of Big Spring; and three grandchildren.

Monday Morning 14 AUG 1950 - San Angelo Standard-Times, San Angelo, Texas