Daniel L. Wetherell
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Dan was born on December 26, 1934 in Joplin Missouri, the first of four children to Harold Eugene and Sarah Kathleen Wetherell. He was the first to attend college in his family. He spent one year at Bethany Nazarene College, later renamed Southern Nazarene University, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma before enlisting in the United States Air Force. Between his time in Oklahoma City and reporting for duty in the Air Force, Dan proposed to and married Shirley June Browder. They were married on September 16, 1955 and remained married for 65 years, until her passing on May 13, 2021.
While serving in the Air Force Dan was assigned as a nuclear weapons technician at Westover Air Force Base near Springfield Massachusetts. Dan rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant during his three years in the Air Force. In 1958 Dan and Shirley moved to Stillwater Oklahoma with their young daughter, Donna. Dan attended Oklahoma State University, earning his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1961. Upon graduation Dan accepted a job with General Electric and the young family moved to Utica NY and Burlington VT before settling in Lynchburg in 1962. Their second child, Mark was born in Lynchburg about 24 hours after they arrived there. He and Shirley had their third child, Edward in 1966. Dan worked for General Electric for the next 24 years earning his Masters Degree in Physics and being awarded four patents during that time.
Dan was always curious and pursued his interests vigorously. In addition to his master's degree, he attended vocational school at night to learn automobile engine repair and maintenance, carpentry, brick masonry and electrician skills, becoming a licensed master electrician.
Dan was active in the Church of the Nazarene in Lynchburg, serving on the church board and using his trade skills to help build a new sanctuary and fellowship hall.
In 1985, Dan took early retirement from GE and moved with Shirley to Oakton VA where he went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency. Dan worked in clandestine services for several years and finished his career working for the Science & Technology Division with a focus on nuclear non-proliferation, retiring from the CIA in 2001.
In June of 2016 Dan and Shirley sold their home in Oakton and moved to the Ashby Pond retirement community in Ashburn VA where he lived until his passing. Dan is preceded in death by his son Mark (Joanna) Wetherell and his wife Shirley. He is survived by his daughter Donna (Rickey) Creel, his son Edward (Sheila) Wetherell, his brother Steve, sisters Gayle and Marylin, 7 grandchildren-Travis, Mary Catherine, Thomas, Elizabeth, Berkeley, Braxton and Shyloh and 4 great-grandchildren.
Dan was a principled and loving husband, father and grandfather. He lived his values and maintained his faith in God every day of his adult life.