Sollars, Ernest Darwin

SOLLARS, MCCOY

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 6/5/2014 at 14:01:31

Sollars, Ernest Darwin -
Ernest Darwin Sollars. 84, of Clearfield passed away on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004, at the Clearview Nursing Home in
Clearfield.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 29, at United Methodist Church in Clearfield with Rev. Len
Garrison officiating. Music was provided by Emma Ditrinco. and John Allen. Casket bearers were John
Jacobs; Mark Perez, Dale Bickel, Matthew Sollars, J Bradley Sollars and Brian Bickel. Burial was in Clearfield Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were by Wilson-Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home.
Darwin was born July 14, 1920, to Ernest and Vesta (McCoy) Sollars in Coal Hollow near New Market. Darwin
attended grade school in Missouri and Iowa and graduated from Gravity High School in 1938. Following high school
Darwin went to work on a farm for Frank Bender, near Clearfield.
Darwin married Hazel Lavon Routh on Dec. 4, 1939. To this union were born Wendell Jay and Ernest Roe.
Darwin was a charter member of the Clearfield Lions Club and served as Tail Twister and Zone Chairman. He was
the first chairman of the Iowa State Fair Shuttle Bus for the Lions Club in 1964and 1965. As a young man, he was a
referee at many high school basketball games in the area.
After more than 20 years of farming, Darwin sold his farm equipment in 1965 and entered the life insurance
business. His success as a salesman took him to companies in Missouri and Ohio. In 1971 Darwin helped found and
became president of Golden Investors Life Insurance Company in Indianapolis.
After years of success in Indiana, Darwin continued his career with life insurance companies in Georgia and Florida.
In 1982, Darwin and Hazel retired to Sun Valley Lake in Ellston, and spent their winters in Las Vegas. After suffering
a stroke in 1999, Darwin returned to Clearfield where he was cared for by his wife Hazel until his passing.
Darwin was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Altha Martz; two brothers-in-law, Willard Martz and Cecil
Miller; and one nephew, Robert Martz.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Hazel, his two sons, Wendell and special friend Monica Jacobi of
Ellston; and Roe and wife Margaret of Tampa Fla., four grandchildren, Sherry Jacobs and husband John, Sandy Perez
and husband Mark, Matthew Sollars and fiancee Emma Ditrinco, and Bradley Sollars and girlfriend Gwen Gruber
two great-grandchildren, Cody Hills and Dalton Hills, a brother-in-law, Delbert Routh and wife Bernadine; and
sister-in-law Betty Jo Miller.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 1, 2004