Robert C McDaniel

Robert C. McDaniel, 82, of Merritt Island, FL entered into eternal rest on Sunday, November 15, 2015 in his home with his wife Marge at his side. The son of William Clarence and Maude Hazel Adkins McDaniel, he was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard and sister Betty Jean Garrett. He is survived by his sister Barbara Parks of Fort Worth, TX, sister-in-law Bobbie McDaniel of Hurst, TX, sister Cynthia Irvin of Hugh Springs, TX, and nieces and nephews.

Bob graduated from Northside High School in Fort Worth, TX and went to TCU on a full athletic scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1956. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. As a pitcher for the Horned Frogs baseball team, his overall record was 22 and 7, with an ERA under 2.0. In 1956 his TCU team won the Southwest Conference Championship, the first TCU baseball club to do so, and played in the NCAA Regional Championships in Tucson, AZ. Bob pitched high school baseball at Northside, professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers farm system, semi-pro summer league baseball, and US Army ball. As a pitcher, he played on 10 championship teams. Even after his baseball days were over, he continued to stay in touch with his high school and college friends and treasured their friendships immensely.

Bob worked for Aetna Life and Casualty for thirty years, the last 20 in Hartford, CT where he retired in 1993 as Vice President of Marketing for Aetnatec. Before he became ill, he loved to cook and was an avid golfer, shooting 5 rounds in the 60’s, 2 hole-in-ones. In his later years, he enjoyed playing poker with friends and trips to Las Vegas and Tampa where he played Texas Hold-em. Up to the end, he was a firecracker of a man – sarcastic, witty, generous, kind, loving and intelligent. He loved his children and grandchildren and enjoyed watching them grow, seeing them participate in sports, watching sports on TV with them, and seeing them swim in the pool.

Bob leaves his wife of 30 years, Marge, and the new puppy Brody he gave her this September. Bob’s greatest gift to Marge was instilling self-confidence in her and enabling her to be the best she could be. He also leaves two children and two stepchildren: Kevin McDaniel of Longmont, CO; Kathleen Moody of Granby, CT (husband Gary, children Julia, Erin, and Teresa); Larry McClure of Wallingford, CT (wife Leslie, children Tucker and Drew); and Randy McClure of Merritt Island, FL (wife Christine, children Connor, Aislinn, Rowen and Flynn).

Brevard Memorial Funeral Home of Cocoa, FL is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.brevardmemorialfuneralhome.com. There are no calling hours.