His family wishes this was just another joke in the life of their “prankster”, Doug McDaniel. They keep hoping he will say…”Gotcha”…like he did time after time after time.
Ralph “Doug” McDaniel, age 66, of Marion, died peacefully on Sunday morning, December 11, 2011, at the Woodside Village Care Center.
On September 1, 1945, Doug was born in Paintsville, Kentucky, the son of the late Lawrence and Beulah Meade Davis.
Due to family circumstances, Doug moved to Marion at a young age to be raised by his adoptive parents, Clarence and Mary McDaniel.
He graduated from Marion Harding High School in the Class of 1965 and had worked at the Marion Power Shovel.
Shortly after graduation, Doug enlisted in the U. S. Army serving with his fellow countrymen in the fight of the Vietnam War. He served with the 1st Infantry as a heavy equipment operator, while being stationed in Cu Chi, Vietnam.
While on leave, Doug returned to Marion to marry his former wife, Thelma Louise (Kessell) Armendinger, whom he had married on April 4, 1967. Together they had their only child, Amy.
Due to an injury sustained while on military leave, Doug was only able to work odd jobs and he had lived many years in Bucyrus and Lake View. He returned to Marion in 2002, to be with his mother, Mary, after Clarence’s passing.
A “huge” Ohio State University football fan, Doug always looked forward to rooting for his beloved Buckeyes.
An avid fisherman, Doug would “fish anywhere there’s water” and he especially loved fishing at Indian Lake. He also enjoyed metal detecting, arrowhead hunting, and coin collecting.
A “professional” coffee drinker, Doug enjoyed shooting the breeze over a warm cup of coffee at the Oakland Grill and the Marion Diner.
Having a “warm heart”, Doug “would give you the shirt off of his back, even if it was his last shirt”. His sensitivity and generosity are just a few of the reasons that “everyone loved him”. He also cherished every moment spent with his grandson, Dalton, and his great-nephew, Mitchell.
“A prankster”, Doug would do anything to get a rise out of you – especially his daughter Amy. He was such a prankster, his family didn’t believe it when they were notified of his passing…his daughter said, “Dad, this better not be another one of your pranks.”
He will be dearly missed by his beloved daughter, Amy Washburn; his precious grandson, Dalton Washburn; his brother, Alfred (Liz) McDaniel, all of Marion; two special nieces: Dorothy Wallingford and Mary Bidwell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his five brothers and a sister: Bobby-Gene, Vernon, Lawrence “Don”, Jesse and John Davis, and Jeanna Hicks.
The McDaniel family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2011, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services celebrating his life will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Anthony Gualtieri officiating. Military honors provided by the Marion County United Veterans Council will follow his services at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Resident Activity Fund at Woodside Village. Donations may be made through the funeral home.
The Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to have been chosen to serve Doug’s family and condolences may be expressed to them online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
About Marion Online Obituaries
