Daniel Davenport

Dan was born in Lima, OH, the son of Dorothy Wise Davenport and Donald Arthur Davenport. He graduated from Cono Christian School in Walker, IA in 1972 where the Lord called him out of deep darkness and into the marvelous light of lifelong relationship with Christ. He attended Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA, and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Gordon College in 1982. Dan later earned a Masters and a PhD in Mathematics at Penn State University. While in retirement he fulfilled a lifelong ambition to earn an additional Masters in Continental Philosophy from Sheffield University in the UK.

Dan married Nina Shafer on May 10, 1975 in Duanesburg, NY, with her father, Roger Shafer, officiating. Dan and Nina were married for 50 years and were blessed with eight children and 14 grandchildren.

During his career he worked for Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, NM as well as HRB Systems and Raytheon in State College, PA, and Lockheed Martin in Valley Forge, PA.

Dan loved working outside, gardening, crossword puzzles, talking theology and philosophy, reading to his children, designing and building jungle gyms, engineering model trains, playing his guitar, and has been described as a punster extraordinaire. Many remember him for his sharp wit, humor, and his gift of wisdom. He knew how to fix any broken thing that crossed his path, making the world around him whole however he could. He was a faithful husband, friend and counselor to many, especially his children and their spouses. He prayed earnestly for his wife, each of his children, and grandchildren every day.

Mourning Dan are his wife Nina, his children, Shelley (Ryan Davis), his son-in-law Mathew Melcher (Anna), Ariana (Judah Stitzer), Ethan, Taylor (Nicole), Owen (Rachael), Susannah, and Laurie (Francis McCauley), and his grandchildren Evangeline, Catriona, Matilda, Thane, Constanze, Junia, Rannoch, Desmond, Maisie, Elijah, Arlo, Jasper, Josephine, Knox, and another baby on the way. He leaves behind siblings Dixie, Deborah, Dona, David, Douglas, Darrin, and Dana, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Jessica Leona (Mathew Melcher).

The memorial will be held on July 29th at Teague Funeral Service in Charlottesville, VA. Visitation is at 10AM and the funeral service is at 11AM. Dan’s brother-in-law, Jonathan Brownson, will officiate. Interment will be during a private family gathering.

Memorial donations in Dan’s memory may be directed to:

Ridge Haven Cono

215 Ridge Haven Road

Brevard, NC 28712

Or online: ridgehaven.org/donations