Daniel James Myers

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Louis Michael on December 20, 2011:

Celebrating the Life of Dan Myers. In the book "50 Years in Review, USMA Class of 51, 2001" Dan Myers (Danny) summed up his biography with his usual zest and optimism: "Life continues its enjoyable journey. Who else could have had 3 successful careers? (a) 20 years in the US Army, including 2 combat tours and 5 years in R&D and Testing of Nuclear Warheads, (b) 8 years as a small business owner and successful Real Estate Broker, (c) 12 years as a Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch, (in a booming market). Life has been the best! All has been the BEST and the future looks as bright as ever." On the personal side, he was very giving and completely devoted to his family, children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He seemed to have a spell over them that bordered on the magical! Always supportive and loving, he held his friends close to his heart. He is our Hero! (Notice how many of his offspring are named Daniel!!) Daniel James Myers, Jr. is survived by his wife, Beth Chappell Myers and her 2 children, Cindy (Kevin) Rice and Mark (Nicole) Chappell. He is also survived by his former spouse, Jean Lavenson Hegele and their 3 children, Elizabeth Ann Myers (Lee Stanhope), Daniel James Myers III (Valerie) and William Howard Myers. He has 9 grandchildren: Emily and Charlotte Myers-Stanhope, Nathan (N. Daniel), Kaitlyn and Nina Myers, Joshua and Luke (L. Daniel) Rice, and 5 yr old twins, Daniel and Alexandra Chappell. He is committed to supporting all the grandchildren through college - 5 are in various stages of progress, 2 more to go, and an education fund is established for the young twins. Dan was born in Little Valley, Tazewell County, VA. on the day his father was buried (Dec. 20, 1928). He greatly admired his Grandfather, William Tyler Ratcliffe, who raised him with much devotion and attention and it was rather sad that Dan, who was serving in Korea, was not notified of his death. His mother, Hazel Ratcliffe Perry, remarried and had 7 children and died in 1998. His surviving siblings are: A.D. (Harumi) Perry, Myra (Bill) Pauley, Nancy Miles, Anna (Jim) Kestner, Charles (Miki) Perry, Linda Berkoff, David (Irene) Perry; and many nieces and nephews all living in Virginia and adjacent States. His other family is K1 Company, members (wives) of the USMA Class of 51, brother and sister rats of VMI Class of 49B, Doc Whitten Boys & Tazewell High School Class of 49 and, for the last 8 yrs, the Compassionate Chemo Team at Tripler. Dan died suddenly from cardio-pulmonary arrest on November 23, 2011. Memorial services and reposing of his ashes at West Point (USMA) and at the Ratcliffe Cemetery in Little Valley, VA. are pending final arrangements in the late spring of 2012. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers. Gods Blessings! Beth Myers

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