Julia Darlene Pepper

Darlene Pepper, longtime resident of Frostburg went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 24, 2025, surrounded by her family in their home in Orlando where she had been living since her husband Roy proceeded her in death. She was 94.

Born to Ruth and Ralph Brain in Midlothian, she was the eldest of five children, all girls. At a very early age her younger sister Shirley contracted Leukemia, and over the course of perhaps a year grew progressively more ill until she died at the age of four. The girls banded closely together during that experience and remained close throughout their lives. Roy often said the sisters were so close that if one of them was cut, the rest of them bled.

Darlene was an excellent student, and like her mother Ruth had a life-long love of learning and reading. Never an athlete, she excelled at academics and in High School and College also pursued drama. While students at Frostburg Teacher's College (now FSU) she and Roy had starring roles in “Pirates of Penzance”.

Graduating from college in 1953, she and Roy married, and like him she pursued a teaching career. They rented a little house from her parents, and over the course of several years improved it from little more than a cabin into the cute little bungalow that it is today nestled between the church (Trinity AoG) and her parent's house. When they built their home on Braddock Rd in Frostburg, her parents rented “the little house” to Darlene's uncle, where he and his wife would reside for the rest of their lives; they ran the convenience store and US Post Office across the street.

Darlene quit teaching when she gave birth to her daughter and did not return to that profession until Cyndee started elementary school. She enrolled Cyndee in Frost Elementary School where Darlene taught so she could keep a close eye on her. Cyndee's teachers were usually Darlene's friends. The two drove to school together each morning, and returned home together in the afternoon.

She attended graduate school and achieved a Master's degree in Education. She taught for over thirty years, and was a beloved teacher whose students adored her. She reveled in the attention showered upon her by one of her students when he performed triple coronary bypass surgery on her over twenty years ago. He still had the token she had given him in the third grade.

Darlene's mother Ruth was a founding member of Trinity AoG, and living right next door to the church she and her mother were there nearly every day. They sponsored many missionaries, and often one could be found staying with either of them while in town after having been over seas for several years. Darlene in particular was never more happy than when singing in the church choir or helping to produce a cantata or Christmas presentation—of course while singing in it as well. She was a long time Sunday School teacher.

She and her husband Roy, along with her daughter and son-in-law started Pepper's Inc, a Restaurant/Bar/Custodial Equipment and Supply business in Cumberland. They grew it into a thriving business which kept the two of them busy after they retired from teaching (Roy spent most of his time working at the school board). However, Roy suffered a serious heart attack in 2014, and shortly after, the two of them moved permanently to Orlando where they owned a condo near Cyndee. While in Orlando they attended St Luke's United Methodist Church. They made seasonal trips back to Frostburg where they stayed for the summer and fall. After Roy's passing Darlene was unable to return. She sold the house in 2022.

Darlene was preceded in death by her sister Shirley, her parents Ruth (Willetts) and Ralph Brain, her husband Roy and her sister Nellie Ann Whiteman. 

She is survived by her daughter Cyndee (Bill), their children Sarah, Allyson and Michael, her sisters Verla (Jess) Williams and Brenda (Lloyd) Neilson, her late sister Nellie's husband Glen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

Viewing will begin at Durst Funeral Home on Frost Ave in Frostburg at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 30 with a service to follow there at 3:00 PM, officiated by Pastor Rob Culler.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor to any children's organization or to the Veterans Organization of your choice are appreciated.