Darl Charles McBride

A larger-than-life individual with a beautifully resonant voice to match, Darl Charles McBride passed away on September 16, 2024 after a courageous battle with ALS; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Darl was born on November 24, 1959, in Mesa, Arizona. His family soon moved to Fillmore, Utah. He loved growing up in that small town surrounded and supported by his mom and dad, brother, and sisters. He rubbed shoulders with uncles, aunts, cousins, and many friends. He learned how to ride a horse, fix a fence, and handle a gun. He worked with his grandpa and uncles at the McBride Lumber Store. His family later moved to Sanpete County, first living in Gunnison, and then Ephraim.

Upon graduation from Manti High, Darl was named Tip Top Templar in recognition for his all-around performance and leadership. “All-around” barely conveys how involved Darl was at Manti High. He was an excellent student and served as student body president. Darl earned 12 letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track, setting a school record in the intermediate hurdles. He acted and sang in many Manti High drama and musical productions, and was part of a much-decorated barbershop quartet that was invited to sing on the Eugene Jelesnik Talent Showcase show on TV.

Darl attended Snow College, and then took a break to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kobe Japan. Like everything else in his life, Darl immersed himself in the Japanese culture and language. He was admired by other missionaries for his competency in speaking and teaching in Japanese. Darl endeavored to keep his Japanese fluency throughout his life, and returned to live and work in Japan several times during his business career.

After his mission, Darl attended Brigham Young University and was awarded with the Edwin S. Hinckley Scholarship, graduating with a degree in sociology, followed by a master’s degree in industrial relations from the University of Illinois. He began a long and successful business and entrepreneurial career with a stint at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, followed by progressively more significant and challenging assignments at Novell, Franklin Covey, SCO, Shout and VirnetX, among several other tech corporations. A full-page photo of Darl commanded the cover of Fortune magazine’s May 2004 issue when he was the CEO of SCO Corporation, and considered a modern-day David at battle with business Goliaths including IBM. Rusty Lindquist, a former colleague at Franklin Covey described Darl’s passion for big thinking: “Darl is a linchpin, a bold and strategic thinker. A game changer. His inherent optimism allows him to see opportunity in the sparsest of places, and his tenacity affords his ability to sustain momentum when it is most needed.”

Darl married Melanie Neilson, later divorced. He has been married to his best friend and soulmate, Andrea Kimball, for 25 wonderful years. Andrea has been Darl’s anchor through the calm and rough waters of life, and Darl’s primary support and source of hope and love though these last difficult years as they have wrestled together against the destruction of ALS. Darl is the father of four children from his first marriage, Austin, Brandon, Lexi, and Madison. He is also stepfather to Parker and McKell. Darl and Andrea are the parents of Cassidy. He loved all of his children and grandchildren, and treasured and bragged about the unique brilliance each added to the constellation of the McBride family. To Darl, despite his many accomplishments outside the home, his family was his whole world. And to them, he has always been and will remain the heart and soul of their family. His daughter Madison said, “If you have ever met the man, you know he is an icon. He has the biggest heart and the funniest ‘darlisms.’ My dad loves so deeply. His family is everything to him. He silently sacrifices so much for us to have meaningful experiences. How grateful we are to be the recipients of his heart.” 

Darl has been a loving, wonderful son, brother, husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, and friend; a great and caring neighbor; a fully-invested BYU, Utah Jazz, and Philadelphia Phillies fan and supporter; a sport’s enthusiast who loved playing any game with anyone, especially his kids and grandkids, a compelling story teller (remember the profound voice); and always a positive friend to anyone he encountered. Darl has been an admired and beloved member of the Cottonwood 13th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he held many callings. Everyone he knew is devastated at his untimely passing. Darl’s journey with ALS and the spiritual experiences he had amid his battle strengthened his faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Darl is survived by his wife, Andrea; seven children including Austin McBride (Tanya), Brandon McBride (Pryscila), Lexi McBride, Madison Butcher (Cole), Parker Vassau (Josilyn), McKell Covey (Taylor), Cassidy Heugly (Hunter). Also, nine grandchildren: Wiley Williams, Hudson, Hayes and Olive Butcher, Noah and Wren Vassau, Mack and Brooks Covey, and Holden Heugly. He is also survived by three sisters and a half brother: Teresa Eklof (Ken), Suzanne Ruedy (Mark), and Jerri Holowka (Frank), and Ryan Snow (Shay). Darl is preceded in death by his father, Charles Patrick McBride, his mother Mollie “Athena” McBride, and his brother, Kevin McBride.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 23, 2024 at the Cottonwood Stake Center, 1830 East 6400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held for friends and family prior to the funeral on Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A graveside interment will be held immediately following the funeral at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery, 3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, UT.

The funeral will be streamed on this link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89665215098?pwd=NndtK3ZUT3JtMWtZeHp3cmgyNDJxQT09