Dan Fletcher

Dan Raymon Fletcher, born September 21, 1926 in Dallas, Texas to parents Carl Raymond Fletcher and Ludie Abner Fletcher, passed away the morning of February 7, 2022 at his home in Panorama Estates on Lake Tawakoni.

Dan was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Annice Kelly Fletcher, his sister Peggy Fletcher Burden, and his brothers Bill Fletcher and Don Fletcher. He is survived by his daughter by his first wife Billie Kennon Fletcher Bell, Lisa Diane Fletcher, his son Dan Fletcher, Jr., his step-daughter Leisa Branch Urbantke and her husband, Gerald, granddaughter, Katherine, grandsons, John, Chris, Sean and Ian, as well as his great grandchildren and his sister-in-laws, Clo Jean Fletcher and Lindel Fletcher, and his nieces and nephews. His friends and neighbors were also very important to him.

Dan graduated from Sunset High School and Crozier Tech in the Class of 1944. He joined the Navy soon after.  He was a WWII Veteran, in the Navy V-6 program from1944-1946. He attended basic training in San Diego, California.  He also learned his love of sailing along the coast with friends when he had time off duty. At the end of the war, Dan was assigned to Administration duties in the Flag Office of the Commander Air Forces, Pacific, at the Ford Island Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In Aug of 1946 he was sent to NAS Norman, Oklahoma where he was honorably discharged.

Dan attended Airdale University, NAS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1946.  He attended what is now the University of Texas at Arlington and graduated in the Class of 1948.

Dan played semi-pro baseball for the MacMillan Oilers while in college, and in the mid 1950’s with the El Dorado, Arkansas team in the South Arkansas Tri-County league.

Dan retired in 1987 from United States Steel Corporation’s Oilwell Division, after four decades of employment.  During this time he was West Texas District Inventory Control Supervisor in Midland, Texas 1950-51.  He was Branch Manager of the El Dorado, Arkansas Store from 1952-1962. He also spent 2 years in Houston with Oilwell.  Lisa can remember her Dad taking her to various drilling sites while they lived there.  From Houston he moved to Crockett where he was Branch Manager of the Crockett, Texas Store from 1965-66, Branch Manager in Victoria, Texas from 1967-68.  Next he became a Division Headquarters Pipeline/Refinery Product Specialist from 1969-1979. In 1980, he became Regional Manager of Drilling Equipment until he became Division Headquarters Sales Manager in 1985.

Dan was an avid golfer and participated in many (ArkLaTex) amateur tournaments   from 1950-1970. He claimed his only hole-in-one at the Dallas Athletic Club on September 16, 1981 on Hole # 16, 153 yards.

Dan loved playing tennis from high school until the 1980’s. He also loved sailing on his sailboat, The Windsong, and taking his grandchildren out for a sail.

In the late 1970’s his wife, Ann, got him hooked on camping, in their small 12ft, single axle, Mobile Scout.  Then in 1980, they graduated to an Airstream.  They crossed the country and camped in every state and all but one of the Canadian Provinces. They met many people who became life-long friends on their travels.

He considered the Cabin on Tawakoni their place in the sun and moved there permanently (from Dallas) after Ann’s death in 2012.

He lived an extraordinary 95 years. We will all miss him.

Burial services will be on February 24 at 1:30pm at the DFW National Cemetery.

Dan will be buried with his wife, Ann, in SECTION 87 SITE 298.