INDIANAPOLIS
Daniel Sellers went to be with his Savior on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015.
He was born on Dec. 19, 1925, in Anderson, Missouri, to Ora Jane and Daniel Sellers Sr.
He is survived by three children, Donna (Cliff) Wright, Wayne (Kathi) Sellers and Vickie Sellers-Thomas; six grandchildren, Dustin (Nikki) and Jonathan (Jenna) Wright, Breanna (Jerry) Hurd, Elizabeth Sellers, Annie Thomas and Cari Pynch; and seven great-grandchildren, Olivia, Grace, Isaiah and Jack Hurd, and Brandon, Emilie and Ava Wright.
His father ran the family business, strawberry farming, and was successful and well-to-do until his sudden death from pneumonia in 1930 when Daniel was 5 years of age. The family business floundered and ultimately failed, leaving his family among the poorest of the area.
Dan was small for his age and often sick with pneumonia, greatly loved and protected by his four sisters, but he took seriously his job as man of the family. He and his older sister Margie hunted nearly every day for food for dinner, and Dan was an expert shot with a rifle and also a slingshot if they didn’t have money for bullets.
He dropped out of school in junior high to work full time for a neighboring farmer, giving all that he made to his mother and sisters. The children finally went to live with his mother’s brother and wife when an abusive stepfather made life unbearable for them.
Dan joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 and served in the Philippines from 1944 to 1946.
After discharge, he settled in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where most of his family had migrated. He met the love of his life, Linda Kroker in Albany, Oregon, in October 1948. They were married on Jan. 29, 1949, in spite of the disapproval of both families.
When it became clear that this was a match made in heaven, all family members gave blessing to their union. They built a life together in Lebanon, Oregon, for 55 years.
Because of health issues, they bravely left their lifelong home and friends and moved to Indianapolis in 2004 to be near their oldest daughter, Donna, and lived there together for eight more years until Linda’s passing in March 2012.
Dan and Linda were active in the First Church of God and later the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Lebanon. While in Indianapolis, they attended Christ Fellowship of Indianapolis with their family and then Mount Pleasant Christian Church. Because of health issues beginning in 2011, they were able to attend services infrequently, but worshiped enthusiastically at home.
Dan was accomplished at many things and was known as a hard-working, resourceful man who could think outside the box to fix or build nearly anything.
He loved hunting, fishing and gardening and the fruits of his labors kept the family freezer and pantry full and the yard full of beautiful flowers. Even when he became a paraplegic in 2003 following the use of an epidural anesthetic, he amazed friends and family with his determination and resourcefulness to take care of Linda and their home, as he had promised her in 1949.
He loved reading everything, especially westerns, and was an expert at working jigsaw and word puzzles.
He was known to be a quiet but friendly man who didn’t talk much in public, but could have long one-on-one conversations. His reputation was also that of a genuine, generous man of great integrity and faith, thankful for every act of kindness shown to him.
He was the one most people chose to call when there was a problem or project and he freely gave of his time and talent. In his younger days, his temper was quick but short-lived; he never carried a grudge and chose to think the best of every person he met. He loved to smile and had a smile and a wave for everyone he saw.
A memorial service will be conducted at 6 p.m. Sunday at Mount Pleasant Christian Church, 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood.
If desired, donations may be made to his grandchildren, Jerry and Breanna Hurd, missionaries in Kenya, Africa. Checks should be made to Africa Inland Mission and sent to them c/o 4908 Plantation St., Anderson, IN 46013.
Arrangements are being handled by Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory.
Information: wilsonstpierre.com.
