Funeral services for Darrell Wayne Slaton, age 66, will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. Interment will follow at Mineral Springs Cemetery in Dubach. Officiating the service will be Reverend Larry Bullock. A visitation will be held from 5:00 till 7:00 PM, Friday, May 1, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.
Darrell was born on October 20, 1959, and passed away on April 26, 2026. Darrell was a man whose heart was rooted deeply in his family, and the love he carried for them shaped every part of his life. He is survived by his devoted wife, Delilah June Slaton, age 63, who remained his constant companion and closest friend through every season of life.
Darrell was the proud father of three sons who meant the world to him: Wayne Bradford Slaton and his wife Jennifer, Jeffrey Allen Slaton, and Phillip Mathew Slaton and his wife, Savannah. He cherished each of them and took great pride in the men they became.
He was blessed with seven grandchildren—Triston Davis, Shyan Slaton, Bryant Slaton, Addie Slaton, Taylor Slaton, Oakley Slaton, and Riggs Slaton, each one holding a special place in his heart. His joy only grew with the arrival of his three great-grandchildren, Dallas, Evelyn, and Waylon, who brought him laughter, light, and a renewed sense of wonder.
He later retired from the Oil and Gas industry, where he worked as a dedicated maintenance supervisor and a devoted mentor to many. His unwavering determination and passion helped propel many service companies forward, those of which he was an intricate part of. Darrell also carried a distinguished record of military awards from his years of honorable service in the United States National Guard—achievements that reflected his lifelong commitment to hard work, service, and integrity. He proudly served as a member of the Engineering Battalion, entering active duty on June 19, 1977. Over the course of his 5 years, 4 months, and 27 days of service, he received an Honorable Discharge and distinguished himself as an Honor Graduate of the Wheeled Tractor/Scraper Course. He also earned the M16 Marksmanship Badge and the Sharpshooter/Expert Badge. His commitment to duty, skill, and a steady work ethic remained a lasting source of pride throughout his life.
Darrell had a way with anything that ran on wheels or gears. Whether it was a tractor that wouldn’t start or a truck that had been given up on by everyone else, he could bring it back to life. He simply wouldn’t quit until he figured it out. That stubborn determination—paired with his steady hands and quiet confidence—made him the one you called, because he simply wouldn’t stop until it was done.
Darrell’s legacy lives on in the family he loved so deeply, in the stories they will continue to share, and in the quiet strength and kindness he passed down through generations.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Olley Slaton and his wife, Joanne, his mother, Mildred Arie, and his sister, Saundra Anne Slaton. He is survived by his siblings, Jimmy Van Slaton and Janice Nadine Barmore, who will forever hold his memory close.
Pallbearers are Triston Davis, Bryant Slaton, Shannon Stewart, Cameron Stewart, Jeremy Luginbill, and John Slaton. Honorary Pallbearers are Taylor Slaton, Kyle Cadwallader and Ben Walker.
