- Date Of Death: November 21, 2022
- State: New Mexico
Dan was born to Norma Jean and David Leroy Castleberry on Tuesday, July 5, 1955, in Sidney, Nebraska, and raised in High Rolls, New Mexico, by his mother and stepfather, Leslie Pickett Porter. He graduated from Alamogordo Senior High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1977; a Master of Business Administration from Chapman University in 1984; and a Master of Accountancy from New Mexico State University in 1985.
Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Dan served in the United States Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1982 and continued service to his country through the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1989, he was honorably discharged from the USMCR at the rank of Captain. Following his military service, Dan was a successful accountant and controller at several companies in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Jacksonville, Florida. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1999.
In retirement, Dan found fulfillment as a freelance copyeditor, an accomplished film and television background actor, and a doting grandpa. Dan kept many hobbies and interests during his life, including proclivities for reading (he was reading 17 books at the time of his death), baseball, college basketball and football, the American buffalo, and Civil War history. Accomplished in many areas of life, Dan’s most important contributions to this world were his strong Christian faith and the fiercely protective love he had for his children, his mother, his sisters, his grandchildren, and his extended family – a legacy that lives on through all who knew him well.
Dan was preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Gene Castleberry; his stepfather, Leslie Pickett Porter; his grandfather, Jesse Daniel Warner; his grandmother, Florence Elizabeth Rolls Warner; his father, David Leroy Castleberry; his grandson, Shepherd Leroy Dalton, and his mother, Norma Jean Porter.
He is survived by his daughter, Lindsey Dalton and husband Jeff; his son, Daniel Porter and wife Morgan; his daughter, Sydney Porter; his sister, Linda Kooiman and husband Randy; his sister, Elizabeth Rose and husband Don; his sister, Cindy Downing and husband David; his grandson, Declan Dalton; his granddaughter, Leigha Dalton; his granddaughter, Hayden Dalton; nine nieces and nephews and their spouses; and 16 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Until we meet again, fair winds and following seas. Semper Fidelis.
