Darrell Lee Caldwell

DARRELL LEE CALDWELL, 59, of Bluefield, West Virginia, went home to be with his Lord and Savior while surrounded by his loving family at his home on Thursday, January 19, 2017, after a long battle with brain cancer.  Darrell was born on August 27, 1957 in Bluefield, West Virginia to John E. and Velma Lee Brooks Caldwell.  He graduated from Bluefield High School in 1976 and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Simpkins, on February 5, 1977.  He was a life-long member of East End Baptist Church in Bluefield, West Virginia.  Darrell had a love for working on motors.  He spent his career as a machinist, first employed by National Parts and then working for City Head Service from 1973-1989.  He retired in 2013 after 24 years of service from Joy Global.  He was a classic and muscle car enthusiast and enjoyed attending car shows throughout the region.  He was a highly skilled mechanic and people came great distances just to have him work on their vehicles.  Darrell enjoyed camping and vacations at the beach with his family.  He also loved his West Virginia Mountaineers and Bluefield Beaver football.  Most of all, he loved the Lord, his faithful and devoted wife of 40 years, Nancy, and their beautiful daughter, LeAnn.  He never met a stranger and also never missed an opportunity to show pictures of his four beautiful grandchildren.  Darrell was preceded in death by his father, John E. Caldwell.  He is survived by his wife, Nancy Caldwell of the home; along with his daughter, LeAnn and Grat Slade of Bluefield, Virginia; four grandchildren, Addison, Macie, Zachary and Zander Slade; mother, Velma Lee Caldwell of Bluefield, West Virginia; two brothers, Duane and Margaret Caldwell of Bluefield, West Virginia, Danny Caldwell of Washington, Pennsylvania; mother-in-law, Bessie “Granny” Simpkins of Bluefield, West Virginia; special aunt, Myrtle Brooks of Bluefield, West Virginia; and many other loving nieces, great nieces and a great nephew. Funeral service for Darrell will be held Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home with Pastors Chad Lambert and Roger Lafferty officiating.  Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Bluewell, WV where Duane Caldwell, Danny Caldwell, Grat Slade, Doug Powers, Eric Haddox, Eddie Keen, Ralph Grinstead and Scotty Strickland will be serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Kelly, Michael Gibson and Bob Gibson. The family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.