Obituary for Colonel Daniel A. Magruder Jr., USAF (Ret) MAGRUDER, Colonel Daniel A., Jr., USAF (Ret), 77, of Louisville, passed away Tuesday, June 26, at his home. He was born on June 29, 1940, in Louisville, KY to Elizabeth L. (Betty) Merten and Daniel A. Magruder, Sr He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by the love of his life since age 15, his wife of 54 years, Colleen Marie (Herbig) Magruder; his daughters, Michelle Walters (Bryan) and Jeanette Rowland (Chris); his grandchildren, Jessica Rayome (Aaron), Rachael, Kayla, and James Daniel (J.D.) Walters, Alex and Erin Rowland; his great grandson, Parker Rayome; his sisters, Patricia Burmester (Bill) and Susan Yost (Bob); and many loving nieces and nephews. Dan was a life-long Roman Catholic and a charter member of St. Patrick Church, where he served as an Extraordinary Minister of Eucharist for many years. He was a graduate of St. Xavier High School, Bellarmine College, the University of Tennessee and the University of Louisville.
After graduating from Bellarmine, he entered the United States Air Force, where he served 26 years, retiring as a Colonel. He served his country in Italy, England, Japan, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Washington D.C. (the Pentagon), Hawaii and California. He was also a Vietnam War veteran (1967-68), where he earned the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Vietnamese Medal of Honor (1st Class), and Vietnam Service ribbon with three battle stars as the senior transportation advisor to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VMAF) at DaNang AB, RVN.
He also earned the Legion of Merit, Air Force Meritorious Service and Air Force Commendation medals with oak leaf clusters during his active duty career. Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1988, he returned to college (U of L) to earn his MAT and teaching certificate in chemistry and business administration. He taught one year at PRP High School (1989-90) before going to Mercy Academy in 1991, where he taught chemistry for the next 12 years.
Following his retirement from Mercy in 2003, he and his wife devoted their time to serving the less fortunate at the Schuhmann Social Services Center, the St. Vincent de Paul Open Hand Kitchen, and Habitat for Humanity. Dan also served on his Home Owners Board of Directors, the St. Patrick School Board and the St. Patrick Pastoral Council. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Patrick Church, 1000 N. Beckley Station Road, with burial to follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2-8 PM on Friday, June 29, at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road in Middletown. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in Dan’s name to Mercy Academy, 5801 Fegenbush Lane, Louisville, KY 40228. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Colonel Daniel A. Magruder Jr., USAF (Ret) please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 JUN 29. 02:00 PM – 08:00 PM Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home – East Louisville 12900 Shelbyville Road Louisville, KY, US, 40243 admin@rattermans.com www. rattermanbrothers.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Visitation begins.
Mass of Christian Burial 2018 JUN 30. 10:00 AM St. Patrick Catholic Church 1000 N. Beckley Station Road Louisville, KY, US, 40245 ourparish@stpatrick-lou.org www. stpatrick-lou.org Order Flowers for the Mass of Christian Burial Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Mass of Christian Burial begins.
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