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DARIEN, Conn. Edward Royal Danks, the senior pastor of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien for 19 years, passed away on Aug. 29 in North Carolina. He was 80.
Born on Aug. 7, 1931, in Essex County, N.J., Danks graduated Houghton College in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and history. He graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1956. He also studied at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Danks served as a youth minister at Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles from 1956 to 1959. He also served in churches in Monrovia, Calif., and Burbank, Calif., before coming to Darien in 1977. He served as the senior pastor of Noroton Presbyterian Church until his retirement in 1996. Following his retirement, he went to Kenya as a missionary.
Danks held many positions within the Presbyterian denomination, including the Presbytery of Southern New England. He also served as a director of the outreach foundation and Presbyterians for Renewal. He led the Darien Clergy Association and was a chaplain for the Noroton Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife, Coreen Luciw Danks, of Concord, N.C.; son Edward Stephen Danks, of Arizona; daughter Debra Lynne Annin, of Greer, S.C.; brothers Howard Danks, of Pinehurst, N.C., and Richard Danks, of Kirkland, Ohio; sister Marilyn Edleston, of New Jersey; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Lorraine Danks, in 1996, and a son, Thomas A. Danks, in 1977.
A public memorial service will be held in the chapel of the Noroton Presbyterian Church on Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. Those wishing to express condolences to the family can post their thoughts online at www.hartsellfh.com.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Noroton Presbyterian Church Urn Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Noroton Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 2011 Post Road, P. O. Box 3401, Darien, CT 06820.
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