Danny "Dan" Joe Cushman

Danny Joe Cushman was born February 9th 1942 in Wellington, Kansas to the late Sam and Kathy Cushman. Dan was the youngest of three children, Dan along with his siblings Beverly and Ron grew up in Belle Plaine, Kansas.

In 1960 he graduated from Belle Plaine High school, home of the Dragons, and was a member of the National Honors Society and Senior Class president. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated with his Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Kansas. He entered the U.S. Army and served in the Corp of Engineers overseas in Germany. He was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st Lieutenant in 1969.

Following his military service, he met Patricia Horne during basic programmer training with IBM. Their first job was contract at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. They moved to Clear Lake City Texas to work for IBM as contractors for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in the Summer of 1971. On October 23rd of 1971, they were married in Webster, Texas.

Dan and Patricia raised their two children Ian and Erin in Clear Lake City. Dan was very active in all aspects of their childhood. He coached numerous of their sports teams including, soccer, baseball and basketball. In addition to his service as a youth coach throughout the years, Dan served as a Big Brother via Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for numerous years. As his children grew older and his coaching responsibilities lessened Dan volunteered for numerous causes benefiting the welfare of animals. He worked closely with the SPCA and fostered numerous cats and dogs. In addition, he served as volunteer at a Wolf Sanctuary that rescued and cared for Wolves and Wolf- hybrids that had been illegally kept as pets. His impact and contribution to the community were greatly appreciated.

For the majority of his career Dan worked as a software engineer in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) where in his role as a lead analyst, his team prepared, tested and supported software integration in the Space Shuttle Program. Throughout his distinguished career he received many awards, including the prestigious Manned Flight Awareness Award and the highly selective and esteemed Silver SNOOPY award from NASA . After an illustrious 42- year career Dan retired in the Summer of 2011.

Dan had a passion for reading, gardening, fishing, skiing, and cooking throughout his life. He enjoyed the outdoors and the family spent many summer vacations at Beach houses, Lake houses and camping. The family also enjoyed numerous trips throughout the U.S. In 2014, Dan and Patricia relocated to Arlington to be closer to their daughter Erin and their grandchildren. He immensely enjoyed time spent visiting with his children Ian and Erin and doting over his grandchildren Darien, Yahria, Evan, Kyler, Peris and Prince-Julian and was affectionately known as “Granddad the Great”.

Dan passed away February 18th, at Pecan Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Kennedale, Texas. He was proceeded in death by his sister Beverly Jean McGehee and his parents Sam and Kathy Cushman. He will always be cherished by his wife Patricia, brother Ron (Carol) Cushman, KS, sister in-law Alphenia (Michael) Shine, brother in-law Alphonso (Piko) Horne III, son Ian (Stephanie) Cushman grandchildren Evan & Kyler, NJ and daughter Erin (Percy) Bass grandchildren Darien, Yahria, Peris and Prince-Julian, TX; his nieces and nephews and the innumerable family, friends, co-workers and all those whose lives he’s touched.

Visitation will take place from 1:00-2:00 pm with funeral services to follow at 2:00 pm Sunday,

February 24, 2019 at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 N Davis, Arlington, TX 76012.

Following cremation, inurnment will be at Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington, TX at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Big Brothers and Sisters of America or SPCA or the

Coastal Conservation Association in Dan's name.