Richard Daniel, age 97, passed away on June 18, 2025 in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He was a resident of the Wind Crest Senior Community. He was born December 29, 1927 in San Francisco, California to Mattie Franchini.

In his own words, the US Army gave Richard his creed to live by: Duty, Honor, Country. "The Army helped create the person I tried to be." He was a man of faith, intellect and strong opinions. Richard had steadfast love for his family and was a devoted husband and father. He believed in the value of daily exercise for strength of body, mind and spirit and kept up his calisthenics well into his 90's. Richard loved opera, classical music and Shakespeare, especially Shakespeare. He enlisted in the US Army directly out of high school (Lowell High School, San Francisco, CA) in 1946. He served in Korea and spent many years stationed in Germany, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After he left the military in 1958, he moved back to the US and lived in Southern California with his wife and two young daughters. He started night school, while working full time, and completed his bachelor's degree from California State University Fullerton (it took him seven years).

Richard worked for several different companies over the course of his career managing government contracts, finally retiring from Hughes Aircraft in 1995. He was active in the Episcopal Church, serving as a lay reader for 40 years, and as a senior warden and vestry member at St. Andrews Church in Fullerton, California. He was also a longtime volunteer at the Crystal Cathedral suicide hotline in Garden Grove, California and an instructor in the senior continuing education program at Cal State Fullerton.  In addition to his church and senior education programs, he was an active bridge player and learned to play bocce after he moved to Colorado in his 80's. He enjoyed his new community at Heritage Eagle Bend in Colorado, meeting many wonderful new friends there.

Finally, Richard described himself as a very lucky man to have married two wonderful women: his first wife Mary who passed away in 1983, and his wife Virginia who he married in 2002. His passing leaves a void for his family and friends, but we are comforted that his life was well lived.

He is survived by his wife Virginia Daniel, daughter Christine Daniel and her partner Cecily Peterson, stepdaughter and son-in-law Kathy and Ivor Hansen and their three daughters Kelly (Zach), Megan and Ivy, stepson and daughter-in-law Craig and Jody Barton. Richard was preceded in death by his first wife Mary to whom he was married for 32 years, and his eldest daughter Alison Geyh who passed at age 52.