Darwin R. Boardman Ii

Darwin Rice Boardman II, Ph.D., 63, of Stillwater, OK, passed from this life on January 11, 2015. Services are entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass celebrating Dr. Boardmans extraordinary life will be held at 10AM on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater, OK. Public visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1pm to 7pm and a Rosary Service will be held Wednesday evening at 7pm at the funeral home.
Darwin was born on November 29, 1951 in Abilene, TX to Darwin Rice Boardman and Mary Mildred (Hester) Boardman. He grew up and played with rocks in Abilene, graduating from Abilene High School. Darwin went on to graduate from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors Degree in Geology and Business Administration. In 1979 he enrolled at the University of Ohio to pursue his Masters Degree in Geology. The following year he married the love of his life, Cecilia Bielamowicz. Later that year, Darwin and Cecilia welcomed the birth of their daughter Mary-Frances. After obtaining his Masters, Darwin returned to Texas Tech where he would go on to earn his Ph.D. in Geology. In 1986, Darwin and Cecilia welcomed the birth of their son Trey.
While completing his doctorate, Darwin accepted a position teaching middle school science at All Saints Episcopal School in Lubbock, TX. Two years later he was invited to join the faculty at the Oklahoma State University School of Geology in 1992. Darwin fit in well at OSU, being awarded tenure in just 5 short years. Dr. Boardman published countless peer-reviewed journal articles during his distinguished career and has several specimens of his work donated to the Smithsonian Institute.
Darwin was one of those fortunate individuals who earned his living doing his favorite hobby. His hobby was his work; his work was his passion; his passion was his calling. He was a fair, yet demanding professor who truly taught for the benefit of the student. It was his sincere desire to instill an appreciation of geology in each of his students lives. He understood that not every student wanted to be a geologist and he did his best to bring to them an appreciation for the subject. Dr. Boardman also ran camps for local high school science teachers, giving them the tools they needed to inspire students to study geology beyond high school.
He was a long time member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater and a lifelong fan of Oklahoma Sooner and Dallas Cowboy football. He was also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Geological Society of America, and the Kansas and Oklahoma Geological societies.
While research was his professional passion, the true love of Darwins life was his family. He was a loving and kind-hearted husband, father, son, and brother. Darwin was devoted to his children and always made time for his family. He could be counted on for good advice and support, finding time to give encouragement and one of his brilliant pep talks to whoever came to him. He had a unique sense of humor and a gentle spirit that made him easy to respect and love. Darwin Boardman was a dedicated educator whose legacy will live on through the lives of his loved ones and the countless lives of those he touched and inspired.
Darwin Rice Boardman II was preceded in death by his father Darwin Boardman. He is survived by his wife Cecilia Boardman, his two children Mary-Frances Boardman of Colorado Springs, CO and Darwin Trey Boardman III of Edmond, OK, his mother Mary Mil Boardman of Abilene, TX, and four siblings: Millie McClure and husband Terry of Ft. Worth, TX, Kim McKenzie and husband David of Abilene, TX, Douglas Boardman and wife Donna of Dallas, TX, and Michele McAllister and husband Paul of Abilene, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly prefer that donation be made to the Darwin R. Boardman II Geology Scholarship in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home 5106 N. Washington. Stillwater, OK 74075.