Daryl Richard Booth

Daryl Richard Booth was born August 26, 1935 to Anna and Glenn Booth, in Mower County, Minnesota.

Daryl was the 3rd of 6 children; James Booth, deceased; Dorothy Foreman, Shirley Coffman, Gladys Morgan and David Booth. He is survived by Carole Lee Booth, wife of 47 years; Elizabeth and Rusty Vaughn, Charles Booth, Jeannie Booth, Stephen Booth, deceased; 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, fifteen nieces and nephews, as well as one step-son and step-daughter.

He grew up a farm boy, milking cows and attended a one-room school for the first eight grades, then high school. He enlisted in the USAF in December 1952, at the age of 17. He went through basic training at Parks AFB and attended electronics school at both Keesler AFB and Chanute AFB. Although he did not fly, he learned to maintain flight simulators for essential training of airline pilots at Wurtsmith AFB until he was honorably discharged in November,1956. At 19, he married his first wife, Pat, and at 20, became father to Elizabeth, who he said was named for Elizabeth, the Queen of England. His other children followed. After leaving the Air Force, attended Tech School and Junior College in Kansas City while working at TWA, Bendix and Rival. It was here that he met a man who was a Manufacturer’s Representative for factories that made soldering and desoldering equipment and other equipment essential to electronics manufacturing. He said often that he left the air force because they wouldn’t let him run it, so it was clear to him that that being a Rep was a way he could work independently. He left Bendix and started his own Rep company in 1969. He called it, Production Automation Corporation. He designed the logo, three gears moving in synch, which continued to be the logo for over 45 years. PAC was successfully operated with offices in Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Dallas, Austin and Houston, Texas. After starting PAC, Daryl learned to fly and especially enjoyed being able to fly in his own airplane to each location. In 1963, he changed direction and sold PAC to his son, Charles and bought the electronics distribution company, Prime Distributing Company, headquartered in Dallas. Looking for a new direction for his interest in education, Daryl invested in the founding of a Montessori Pre-School in Dallas, offering a special curriculum based on principles of positive thinking. He was excited to have a hand in developing a curriculum that coupled the ethic of hard work with an attitude of optimistic problem-solved. The school flourished and was later absorbed by the Unity Church.

After moving to Dallas, Daryl met his second wife, Carole, who was a supporter of the Montessori School. They married in 1978 and moved to Allen, where they took on the project of building a geodesic home, designed by the famous Buckminster Fuller. While building the house, they continued to run the distribution business, relocating it from Dallas to Allen, adding sales staff and eventually becoming a successful business with customers throughout the country. Seeing the opportunity of growth with woman-owned businesses, Daryl appointed Carole as President, and together they expanded the electronics sales business with government contracts set aside for woman-owned businesses. He supported Carole’s effort to be active in WBE, Woman-Owned Business Enterprises. In 2015, Daryl sold Prime and stepped down as Vice-President to devote time to the farm in Quitman, where he enjoyed raising blueberries. Carole continued to work with the new owners until 2017, when she also stepped down and devoted her time to beekeeping and teaching Tai Chi Classes.

Daryl loved the air force, loved flying, and he loved being a part of the Civil Air Patrol. In 1985 he and Carole bought a 100-acre farm in east Texas, near the town of Quitman. He loved the pines, reminders of time in Minnesota. He planted blueberry bushes, created a watering system using water from the pond specially created at the farm and loved harvesting the berries. He became active in the local Quitman Garden Club. It was a special time in his life when he was able to host several bivouacs at the farm, for young members who were working to advance their search and rescue skills. They came for long weekends to communicate with each other by walkie-talkies, practicing Search & Rescue techniques for downed aircraft, learn how to create shelters and outdoor survival techniques under the training of adult air force officers who were dedicated to youth development.

Daryl was known a “funny guy”. He had a quick wit and enjoyed making people laugh. When asked what he thought was important in life, he said it was to try new things, to keep learning and to make people think. Most people didn’t realize that Daryl was a deeply spiritual man. He laughed about his early years in many churches; born a Lutheran, baptized as Baptist, but in later years his real interest was in the teachings of Buddha. He loved to read; he loved learning.

In May, of 2022, he wrote this message to one of his grandchildren who was graduating from high school, which provides a window into his life’s path.

Congratulations: This is the start of a NEW path toward a new understanding of life. You have just stepped onto this new path; now you are expected to be more of a leader then a follower. Your word should always be your Bond. With the Love from Many, I trust your road will have few pot holes. You are being watched over and guided, so keep an open mind and a clear understanding of the next right action to be taken. I send you LOVE and very best wishes for your life yet to be lived.

With LOVE, Daryl Booth, Your Grandfather

May 10, 2025. He wrote this message to John Sheely, son of step-daughter Marla Sheely).

Dear John, we are so proud of your graduation from the University of Arkansas and your many achievements. May we offer you a few thoughts, as a guide we used for success in our business, in life, now to be of service to you. Here is much Love to You and our wish for a fulfilling life, Grandpa Daryl & Grandma Carole

Think, Practice, Reflect

Learn to give up when too many blocks seem to stand in the way… It may be a sign there is something better; a different approach. Ask for inner direction. Practice saying, “Thank You.” Learn always…even from the worst mistake. He who makes no mistakes ends up making nothing. Learn from mistakes of others to reduce your own mistakes. Risk speaking up, but speak with a kind voice. Knowledge is nothing without action. There is always a reason; an excuse to do nothing. Nothing changes until you do something. Don’t expect to change someone else. The only person you can change is yourself. Watch your thoughts. What you think will determine what you attract to yourself. Time must be spent learning how to do it right. Desire must exceed fear of failing. Learn to be a different kind of leader; one who listens and one who acknowledges the values of others. Focus on skills required to do the job that needs to be done. Leadership is not about what you know but what you do with what you know. Practice on defining the positive direction for yourself as well as the organization for which you are responsible. Accept others for who they are; what they are and where they are. Vision is Clarity. Stay true to your Vision. Follow your Passion. Remember: Work without passion is Life without Joy.

Finally, about a year ago, Daryl told everyone about how he was awakened in the middle of the night and told, “Write this down.” Then came the message: “You cannot change the Past, but you Can Change the way you think about it.” He repeated this message to any who would listen…it was very important to him to tell people how they could cope well with Change. And to give folks messages of new ways of thinking, not taking themselves so seriously, and not taking things personally.

Daryl Booth was one who made a difference.

Services for Daryl will be set for a later time.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Quitman Garden Club, P.O. Box 153, Quitman, TX 75783, or to Civil Air Patrol through its giving program. Daryl was a longtime supporter of Civil Air Patrol cadets, opening his East Texas farms for bivouacs, outdoor survival training, and search-and-rescue exercises involving Donations may be made to Civil Air Patrol through the Civil Air Patrol Giving Program. [gocivilairpatrol.com]