Darwyn Gary Lukens

Darwyn G. Lukens was born June 5, 1936 in Salem, Oregon. He died peacefully on January 12, 2016 at age 79. Darwyn is survived by Diane, his wife of 56 years, daughter Lynn Ray, of Beaverton, sons Jeffrey S. Lukens of Hillsboro, and Patrick T. Lukens of Bolingbrook, IL. Darwyn was proud to be a native Oregonian. As the only child of Evelyn Nelson, he went to grade school in West Salem where he was active in the Boy Scouts. He specialized in waterfront activities and safety, teaching canoeing and lifesaving to younger scouts. His mother remarried and they moved to Portland where Darwyn enrolled at Lincoln High School. An average student, Darwyn was drawn to vocal music. He was a member of both the choir and ensemble groups and sang bass in the school’s Barbershop quartet, “The Four Little Shavers.” They competed successfully in a number of competitions. These men remained friends through all the changes in their lives and happily reunited forty years later to sing again for their beloved music teacher, Jess Foster, shortly before he passed away. Darwyn never failed to cause a rolling of the eyes and a shake of the head from his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews when he insisted on playing Barbershop CDs in his car. After attending the University of Oregon, where he planned to study accounting and music and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, Darwyn changed course, joining the Army and serving for three years at Fort Gordon in Georgia. He and buddy, Dean Crittenden, signed up to be paratroopers. But in the Army’s infinite wisdom, discovering Darwyn’s music major in college, he was assigned to be the leader of the marching band. As bandmaster, he met Arlin Johnson, who proved to be a life long, loyal buddy. Arlin had emailed Darwyn just days before he passed. Upon leaving the Army, Darwyn started his business career in a small loan office in the Weatherly Building in Portland. He was well suited for the work and rose quickly through managerial, district, and corporate positions. He married and started a family living first in Portland, then moving to Emmet, Idaho to open a brand new City Finance branch office. From Idaho, the family returned to Oregon, living in La Grande. Then it was back to Salem with three kids in tow. Still rising with the company, Darwyn was offered a position with Capital Financial Services in Columbus, Ohio. It was a hard decision to make, but the family pulled up stakes and headed for the flatlands of the Midwest. From Columbus, now a vice president with his company, Darwyn moved the family to the Chicago area, living in Glen Ellen, Illinois. In 1986, looking for a position closer to his Oregon roots, Darwyn accepted a job with US Bank in Portland and happily returned home. He retired from US Bank in 1998. Retirement saw Darwyn playing some golf and traveling. But restless for something constructive to do, he volunteered as an ombudsman for nursing home residents. He really enjoyed being an advocate for those without someone to speak for them. This lead him to move on to being a volunteer for SHIBA, an organization which helps to guide older citizens through the bureaucracy of Medicaid and Medicare and general insurance programs. He enjoyed being helpful to older people. Darwyn was adopted by his step father, Alford Lukens at the age of fourteen. They forged a long and loving relationship of mutual respect. His family expanded to include sisters Marie Gehlen (Dec’d) and Judy Taylor (Dec’d), and brother, Ford Lukens. When Al remarried, Marion Lukens proved herself up to dealing with Darwyn’s controlling ways and teasing sense of humor. He self-adopted her and was a devoted son to both, caring for them for the rest of their days. As self-appointed “go to guy” for the family, Darwyn was the man with the answers and enjoyed being of service when someone had something they weren’t sure how to handle. A lonely only child, family was important to Darwyn. Though he traveled in his business, his kids were always his top priority. He was a good dad, a proud grampa and a doting uncle. He was brother-in-law to Johnette (Robert) Majury of Portland and Terry Milburn of Washougal, WA. Darwyn will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren: Justin (Samantha) Lukens, of Joliet, IL, Christine Ray, of Hillsboro, and Paige and Patrick T. Lukens, of Bolingbrook, IL. He loved being uncle to Mike Majury, of Bend, Elizabeth (Ron) Bocking, of Eugene, Jenny (Trevan) Duey, of Sisters and great uncle to nieces and nephews, Grace, Eva, and Nathan Brady, Brody and Brooke Duey, and Jim and Tara Milburn.