Former Windham Resident Darrell Chiles, 1946-2022: Obituary

WINDHAM, NH — Darrell Eugene Chiles, son of the late Thomas and Ruth Adams Chiles, was born Aug. 20, 1946 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He peacefully entered into eternal rest on March 3, 2022 at his home under the care of hospice. In addition to his parents, Darrell was preceded in death by four brothers, Nathan Bernard Chiles, Phillip Enslowe Chiles, Sr., Thomas Leon Chiles and Stephen Winthrop Chiles.

At an early age, Darrell as he was affectionately called, was baptized and later became a member of Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charlotte. Darrell was educated in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, graduating from West Charlotte Senior High School in 1964. He relocated to Washington, D.C. Darrell entered the U.S. military in 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam. He worked in intelligence at the Pentagon his last year of service. He was honorably discharged in May 1970. He furthered his education at Howard University and in 1974 graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration. He relocated to Chicago for 10 years and then to Windham, NH, for 17 years.

Darrell was owner and operator of Darrell E. Chiles & Associates, a distributor of industrial and packaging products. He also worked at Wang Laboratories in Lowell, MA. He was an active community and small business leader in the southern New Hampshire area and a member of the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce for over 12 years. He served the chamber in many roles including the membership and ambassador, commerce and industry and scholarship committees, culminating in his leadership as the first Black chairman of the board from 1996 to 1997. In 2004, Darrell was awarded the prestigious William A. Brown Distinguished Businessperson Award.

In addition to his work with the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, Darrell was a volunteer and leader serving the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization of the Merrimack Valley from 1996 to 2004. During his tenure, he served as president and chairman of the fundraising and golf committees. Under his leadership, the organization raised over $250,000 and matched over $125,000. (“Big/Little Matches”)

Darrell also served on the Board of Directors at Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH.

He relocated to Clermont, Fla., in 2004 to the Kings Ridge community where he served as President for four years. He was the longest running resident serving on the Kings Ridge Board as a Director and with his committee assignments served longer than anyone. He also served as the President of the Sussex Neighborhood within Kings Ridge for 12 years.

Darrell was a lover of people, where his best friend thought he was his “only” best friend. He was an avid golfer teeing his first hole in one at Pine Ridge on June 5, 2003 on the 354-yard par 4 16 th hole, using a 5-wood, and traveler having visited 45 of the 50 states.

Darrell is survived by a devoted wife, Margaret "Maggie" McNamara Chiles of 19 years; two daughters: Cheryl Laster (Ben) and Felecia Williams (George); one brother, Robert Chiles; two sister-in-laws: Shirley W. Chiles and Ann McNamara; two brother-in-laws: Joe McNamara and Jim McNamara; six grandchildren: Jalen Smith, Isaiah Smith, Tia Laster, Isaiah Laster, Brandon Williams and Jasmine Williams; two nieces: Keyna Chiles and Andrea Chiles; seven nephews: Reginald Chiles, Robert Chiles, Jr., Lamar Chiles, Quintin Chiles, Phillip Chiles, Jr., Neal McNamara, Dan McNamara and a host of other relatives and friends.