William Dan Sims Sr.

Dan was born on July 10, 1932 in the coal country of Franklin County, Tennessee. He was born to Robert and Myrtle (Gardner) Sims. Up until the age of 16, Dan spent a majority of his time assisting his father operate the Steed-Anderton & Sims Funeral Home, which, as Dan would tell you, was located in one of the first brick homes ever constructed in the City of Winchester. In 1948, Dan and his family moved to Daytona Beach to be closer to the ocean and Dan attended Mainland High School, where he met the love of his life, Martha Ann Bennett. Dan and Martha were married September 5, 1954 and they raised two sons, William (“Danny”) Sims, Jr., and Michael (“B”) Sims.

Dan lived a full life; one that was devoted to service, family, and making memories. He attended Stetson University in DeLand in 1950, where, as Dan would tell anyone who would listen, he was roommates with actor Ted Cassidy, better known as Lurch from The Adams Family. From 1951 to 1956, despite lacking the ability to swim, Dan served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Neptune, a deep-sea cable installation ship stationed in the Caribbean. He was always impressed with himself that he could somehow get away with faking a cold to get out of the Navy’s swimming test.

Dan loved collecting garden gnomes and windchimes, rooting for Number 3 on weekend afternoons, and sitting on the porch with Martha, waiving at passersby and yelling at cars driving too fast. He never met anyone who was not his friend and always made it a priority to call people by their first names. He was known for his quick wit, his kind and compassionate spirit, and his unwavering devotion to family.

Dan departs this earth to join his parents, Robert and Myrtle, and his baby-sister, Bobbie Jean, and does so with a life full of stories to fill them in on. His legacy lives on through his wife Martha; his two sons, Danny and Michael; his two daughters-in-law, Robin and Teri, who he loved as though they were his own; his grandchildren, Matthew, Haley, Tyler (“Possum”), and Jeff; and several cousins, all of which loved him dearly. His stories and infectious personality will be sorely missed by all.

Dan will be laid to rest with full military honors on Thursday, February 11, at 10:00 am, at the Volusia Memorial Funeral Home. His family is forever in debt to those who listened to his stories over the years and to his neighbors Reo, Doug, and Michelle for all the help over the last few.