Joshua Darst

“Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you were ever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Joshua Eric Darst, 21 years old was born November 6, 2003, in Lancaster, Ohio, and died August 19, 2025, in West Chester, Ohio, after a tragic accident. Joshua was a homeschool graduate and was going into his senior year at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, studying to complete a Business Management degree with a minor in Sports Management. In addition to his academic pursuits, Joshua was a Left-Handed pitcher for the Cornerstone Eagles baseball team.

Joshua started working at the Lakota YMCA at the age of 15 as a lifeguard and progressively worked up to managing the indoor and outdoor pools. He often could be seen greeting young new swimmers to the pool with a high five and smile when performing duties as their trusted swim instructor. In addition, he was an active member of Tri-County Baptist Church, and as a young man, he assisted with grounds’ upkeep, including mowing and taking care of the baseball fields.

Joshua loved with a full heart, was kind, generous, loving, dedicated to everyone and everything he pursued, and had the ability to make every person feel like they were his best friend. He was the embodiment of Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

He is survived by his paternal grandparents Richard and Raechel Darst, Aunts and Uncles Ryan & Tina Darst, Gwendolyn (Buxton) Stanley, Curt & Sarah (Buxton) Powell. Cousins Natalie Darst, Allyson Darst, Jillian Darst, Rebecca (Stanley) Burge, Hannah (Stanley) Snyder, Lydia (Stanley) Sarracino, William Stanley, Nathaniel Stanley, and Johnathan Powell and by his parents Ronald Eric and Mary Jean (Buxton) Darst, who were the luckiest of all to call him son.

Joshua was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents David N & Betty Jean (Hess) Buxton.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29th from 6:00-9:00pm at Tri County Baptist Church, 8195 Beckett Rd, West Chester Township, OH 45069. 

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 30th at 11:00am with a visitation prior from 9:00-11:00am all at Tri County Baptist Church. Interment to follow in Spring Hill Cemetery.

Scholarship information:

A scholarship has been established at Cornerstone University in Joshua's name,

To give go to: Give online to Cornerstone University. Click on the give online tab and fill out information. Under predetermined money amounts there is a pull down bar to select fund type. Select other and in the comments section please specify Joshua Darst Memorial Baseball Scholarship.

Instructions for giving via check:

Please make check payable to "Cornerstone University" with a note in the memo line or on a separate note designating the gift to the "Joshua Darst Memorial Baseball Scholarship fund".

Mail to:

Cornerstone University

Attn: Gift Processing

1001 E Beltline Ave NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525