Darwin E. Fender

FAIRHOPE, AL Darwin E. Fender, a native of Oklahoma and a long time resident of Fairhope and Mobile, died December 10, 2010, he was 89.  Mr. Fender served as a Captain in the Armored Cavalry during World War  II earning five battle stars and the Bronze Star Medal.  He fought in France and landed on Omaha Beach in 1944.  He also fought in Holland, Belgium and Germany.  Later, he helped the Allied Forces stationed in Germany with the reforestation of Germany and Bavaria. Mr. Fended retired after 36 years with International Paper Co. as Senior Forest Manager and Forest Productivity and Research Worldwide.  He was a graduate of the University of Georgia and a member of the Society of American Foresters and was the author of many papers and articles published in the Journal of Forestry.  He served as chairman of the Southern Forest Disease and Insect Research Council, The American Forest Research Committee, and was listed in the American Men and Women of Service, 12th edition. Locally, he served on the Forest Advisory Committee for the Mobile County Public Schools, the Republican Executive Committee and was Vice-Chairman of the Mobile County Solid Waste and Disposal Authority.  He was a member of Kingswood United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Alice "Niki" Fender;  daughter, Rebecca (Robert) Giles, both of Daphne;  son, Lt.Col. Ret. J. Neal Fender of Auburn;  four grandchildren, Douglas (Rosemarie) Peck of Columbia, MO,  Jennifer (Frank) Porter of Vestavia Hills,  Joanna (Kevin) Phalen of Daphne,  Erin (Mark) Blair of Auburn and five great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, December 13, 2010 at 10:00 am from Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home Chapel in Fairhope.  The family will receive friends following the memorial service. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC 19698 GREENO ROAD FAIRHOPE, AL  36532