Father Wade Darnall Remembers:
“I enjoyed every day of it”
By Father Wade Darnell
as told to
Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda

My favorite memories revolve around children. I love the children. I taught in the Catholic schools wherever I was. And I loved teaching children. I loved to train altar boys and take them on a little trip as a treat. I had great interest in children all my life.

Sometimes people would say, why didn’t you just get married and have  a family. And I’d say, well, I wanted to be a priest! (laughs)

My full name is THOMAS WADE DARNALL, but I always went by Wade. I was born in Marlow, Oklahoma, on July 4th, 191 3, and I lived there all my life. I had a happy home life. My mother and father, all my brothers and sisters. There were five in the family, but my younger sister and I are the only ones still alive. The others are gone, dead already. I was the oldest boy. My sister Peggy comes up once in a while and we go out and have a meal.

Both of my parents came from Texas and are buried [in Marlow]. My mother came from South Texas, and my father from North Texas. They met in Marlow, married, and lived there their whole married life. Raised a family there.

When I grew up, Marlow was about 2,000 people. The people in Marlow I don’t know any more because I’ve been away too long. But out at the cemetery, I know all of them’ (laughs), and I liked to go out to the cemetery and pray for all the people out there.

I went through school there, then to a little Catholic school in Chickasha they had at that time for one year. That’s not there any more. Then I went to Saint Gregory’s for a couple of years, then I went back and graduated in Marlow [1931].

As a kid in high school I used to have dates and girlfriends to go to dances at school and all that... and I enjoyed it very much. But marriage was not my aim.

From the time I was serving Mass as an altar boy, I had great admiration for the priesthood. The Mission parish in Marlow was under Duncan, so the priest came from there. I loved the priest, Father James A. Garvey. I was his altar boy for quite a long while.

Then I went in the Army and to the Second World War. I was in the 99th Field Artillery, and the First Cavalry Division. That’s why I was assigned to them... because they were operating as infantry, and so we had to do a lot of artillery practice. On account of that, I’m deaf in one ear. I hear, but not too well. I was down in Australia and all down in that area. I was a lieutenant, then a captain, and then finally a major.

Not sure why, but somewhere along the way I was nicknamed Pappy, Pappy Darnall-maybe because I’m a priest. They don’t call me that anymore, but they used to. I came back and went to [St. Mary’s] Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. We had to do a lot of studying, and school wasn’t easy. I was not the best student, but I studied hard and I did okay. It wasn’t all straight A’s but I did alright.

I was ordained [in 1952] at Our Lady’s Cathedral here in Oklahoma City by Bishop McGuinness.

I was first assigned as an assistant to St. Joseph’s Old Cathedral here in Oklahoma City. I was there nine years. And from there I went to Lawton for nine years at Blessed Sacrament Church. Then I went to Frederick, Oklahoma, as pastor, and I had Frederick and all its missions for 22 years! And I enjoyed every minute of it. Of course I was younger then, and I had a car and I could go around...

Then I retired, and I’ve been here [at St. Ann’s] ever since.

I never questioned being a priest, no. I’ve always been very happy in the priesthood-visiting the people in the hospitals and nursing homes and all that. I liked to visit sick people, and have a parish, and work with the children... and I enjoyed ALL of it. And the people were very appreciative, appreciated what was being done for them. I taught in the Catholic schools wherever I went (laughs). Oh yeah. I loved that! I love little children.

I had great admiration for the priests that I was serving, like Father Garvey. And when I went to Saint Gregory’s, I was very inspired by those Benedictine priests there. And in seminary I was very inspired by those priests at the seminary! I had good examples, excellent examples-and I pray for all of them.                                                   

See that picture right there... it’s of Msgr. Gustav De Prater who was the pastor I worked under for nine years. And I liked him. When the beggars would come to the door needing a place to sleep, needing food, he’d always help them. He took care of everybody’s need. He was an excellent priest.

I tried to follow the example of Msgr. De Prater by being generous about people staying in the rectory. In all the [parishes], we always had an extra room. When [I met] the homeless, or people traveling on the highway who didn’t have a place to sleep, or any money to eat on, I’d invite them to stay with us... and I never had any trouble. When I had a car, I’d pick up hitchhikers. They’re always hungry, so I’d give them something to eat.

I’ve forgotten a lot of stories... people come up to me and say, you helped me that one time when you were here or there... and I can’t remember, but I’m glad I helped. And they’re always very thankful.

[If I met a young man considering the priesthood], I’d tell him some of my [wonderful] experiences, like working with children, working in parishes working with sick people, visiting the hospitals, visiting nursing homes.. all of it. [My favorite] memories are helping people! and celebrating mass, hearing confessions. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

[The most difficult thing about being a pastor for me was] managing the finances. A lot of the parishes where I was were poor... and trying to have enough money to keep things going, that was always a problem But people in the parish were always ready to help me.

I would tell [someone who was worried about the future] first be constant in your prayers... storm almighty God in prayer with all the problems that you have. When I had a problem in the parish, I’d go and have a talk with the people in the parish. You’ve got business men, you’ve got ranchers, you’ve got farmers, and I found that all those people were always very helpful. Parishioners always supported me, they were always ready to help.

Out in Frederick we had many Mexican people. They called and needed help. Well, after I retired, I was being sent money from the Army and I had extra money from that, and what my father left us in his estate, so I’d send them money to help them. And the Bishop heard about it and said, quit sending money out there. And I said, well Bishop, they’re poor people. They need the help. And I’ve got money I don’t need. He said, don’t send them any more money. Tell them to go to Frederick’s social services, which I did. Now I never get any more calls. I was just happy to help. But the bishop said, quit doing that! [laughs], so I did.

I learned Spanish, not from school, but from talking with the Mexicans, you know. I still know a little of it, not much though. I’ve kind of forgotten. There was a time when I could give a sermon, and the people said they understood me. Of course, they’re nice people, so they’d say they understood whether they really did or not (he laughs).

I guess I’ve told about everything I know to tell you. I tried to help the poor people, the homeless that needed a place to sleep, needed food, needed travel money. I enjoyed doing it, and I miss doing it. Not very often, but sometimes, people come here and I hear confessions.

I don’t now, but I did for a while [miss being in a parish], miss teaching in school, miss visiting sick people, visiting nursing homes. I enjoyed all things about being a priest.

It’s been a very happy life, very happy.