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Dan R passed away today May 31, 2025

Dan's funeral will be at the committal shelter at the M. J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery at 140 Inway Drive, Anderson, SC on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm with burial thereafter.
His obituary is here

www.indexjournal.com

Daniel Richardson

Daniel Richardson
www.indexjournal.com www.indexjournal.com
 
Wow, what a life. I've known Dan for I really don't know how many years, but seems like I knew him well
even though I never met him personally. He was always available to talk and you always felt it was time
well spent. We are richer for having him in our lives . Godspeed Dan!
 
I feared this day was not far off when he announced that he had pancreatic cancer. That took my father as well. It was fast, but in some ways not fast enough in his case. Dan was of immense help to me and many others in the Sunbeam community. I will think of him every time I see those disc brake calipers peaking out from behind my rear wheels.

I am so glad I got to meet him in person at the Independence SUNI. He was also always available by phone. Godspeed my friend.
 
Last edited:
65sunbeam said:
His obituary is here
Click to expand...

For those who hit the newspaper's paywall when trying to read Dan's obituary, you can also find it here: https://www.harleyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/dan-richardson-2/#!/Obituary

Here is the text of the obit:

Obituary for Dan Richardson​

Daniel (Dan) Alexander Richardson, Sr. was born on January 20, 1939 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, accepting Christ as his Savior in 1958. He finished this earthly race and entered eternity on May 31, 2025 at the age of 86. He died peacefully in his sleep with family by his side.

Dan was the son of Daniel “Red” Richardson and Alma Lillian Gibson. He was raised in Greenwood, SC on the lake where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and mechanics and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1957. He entered the United States Air Force in 1959 and married his wife, Linda, in Charleston, SC in September of 1965. Thereafter they lived in Charleston; Minot, North Dakota; Anchorage, Alaska; and Midwest City, Oklahoma. His time in the service also took him to Bermuda, Thailand, Iceland, New Zealand, and Antarctica.

He proudly served his country for 20 years throughout the United States and the world before retiring from the U.S. Air Force. After his retirement from the military, he continued working for many years, a reminder of his lifelong work ethic.

During his post-military working years, he worked tirelessly in various political activities, even participating as a presidential elector for the State of South Carolina in multiple electoral college elections. In his many years of retirement, he enjoyed restoring his Sunbeam Alpine cars and helping his many dear friends in the Sunbeam Alpine community throughout the world do the same, developing a wide reputation for his creative designs of improved parts and for his innovative solutions for various Alpine issues.

He is survived by his wife Linda and by his three children, Paige DeLeon and husband Angel of Dallas, Texas; Daniel Richardson, Jr. and wife Alyssa of Greenwood, SC; and Ernest Richardson and wife Shawna of Pratt, Kansas, as well as by 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Dan leaves behind a legacy of love for and devotion to his wife Linda, his children, and all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, a legacy of kindness and generosity to innumerable friends, but most importantly a legacy of devotion to his Lord Jesus Christ, through Whose saving grace those who trust Him are assured of a physical resurrection and an eternity with Him.

A ceremony will be held at the committal shelter at the M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery at 140 Inway Drive, Anderson, SC on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm with burial thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont (www.careofthepiedmont.org) whose wonderful staff provided great care and support to Dan and the family in his last days.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dan Richardson please visit our Sympathy Store
Click to expand...
 
I've had some time to collect my thoughts, and I don't know that I'm all the way there. But all I keep thinking is that this is such an immense loss for our community. Not a day goes by that I'm doing a search for some Sunbeam answer anywhere on the internet, and there, the third comment is Dan trying to help someone out from across the globe. I'm truly sad over the loss of a dear friend, but I have to smile every time I see his name pop up where I least expect it.

I can no longer call him for advice when I run into something I can't handle. But he'll always be right there ready to lend a helping hand. I can search my problem, then DanR, and he's ready with a solution. In countless ways, he lives on in this forum and so many others – and in the people he's inspired.

The funny thing about him (much like his own dear friend, Bill Blue, whom we lost recently as well) is that your problems became his problems. You'd say, "Dan, I can't figure out a way to do X." And he'd scratch his head and say in his folksy way, "You know, I don't know that I've ever come across that" and go on about his business. Then a day, a week, maybe months later, he'd call you or run into you at a car show and present you with three solutions. He was like that, always innovating, always solving, always trying to build the better mousetrap. And always, always trying to help others.

One of my favorite memories happened at a car show 3, 4, maybe 8 years ago. Dan noticed that my exhaust hanger had become detached. As I leaned on the quarter panel to lower myself onto my shaky knees to figure out what to do, Dan had flopped on his back, and was 3/4 of the way through the repair before I could even get down on the ground. I couldn't imagine a man 20 years his junior being so spry – or so quick to help a brother in need. But that's just who he was.

As I watched the man whom I'm confident could've taken down a bear with his bare hands a year ago get ravaged by this disease, at every opportunity, I talked to him like a friend, yes, but also like a biographer. I wanted to learn what made him tick, what kept him going many years after most men would quit. I asked him which among his many inventions and improvements over the years is he most proud of. He thought for a long moment (after all, there were many to consider) and said, "The 4-0." He saw his fiery red Sunbeam with the 4.0 Ford engine, first as a white whale he called "The conversion that couldn't be done," then as an Everest conquered. Right up 'til the end, he was tweaking that beast of a car. Ultimately I don't know where he was in that process when wrenching became the furthest thing from his mind, but I do know that that vehicle is scary fast and undoubtedly amazing. For being such a mild-mannered guy, he sure built cars that were anything but.

His personal motto was "Keep 'em on the road." And he did just that. I'd venture to guess that dozens or even hundreds of Sunbeams from sea to shining sea and well beyond are being kept on the road by Dan's parts, his wisdom, and even the inventiveness he inspired in us all. I think the best thing we all can do to honor the life well-lived of this giant among men is to turn the wrenches, to innovate the solutions, to lend a helping hand whenever possible. Let's all do whatever it takes to keep 'em on the road.
 
Another memory or two.
I had mentioned to Dan that my B post hinge base had a rusted up pivot screw, making it stiff. Next thing you know, he had worked with his "machinist friend" to make new ones. Problem solved.
I had parted out a rusty Alpine, and offered Dan the rear end. Took me a while, with a Rube Goldberg approach, for me to get it into my pickup. Went down to Greenwood, and Dan just picked it up out of the truck. Refused any help.
And have you ever met anyone whose military service included Antarctica?
David
 
Sad news, Dan was a nice and great person, innovator for V6’s in Alpines plus Tigers. Always trying to improve what items he developed. It was always a treat to stop by his place on the way back from Fla to Wisc to see what he was working on. He had boundless energy and sharing his knowledge of “southern engineering” new parts.
Went to Bill Blues to pick up a T5 from Dan, he was helping Bill Blue get his replacement Durapine on his rotisserie and loading the wrecked one on his trailer. Certain pcs would not fit so off to Bills shop for instant modification. Filled the basement with grinding smoke and got it done, Barb called down the stairs what was going on down there? Bill answered Dan’s working! He will be missed.
Condolences to Linda and his family for your loss.
 
I don't have enough words to express my sadness for my friend Dan except to say I am sure he is up there working out issues for heaven to work more efficient. I look over my car and see Dan's handy work all over it, I miss you buddy.
 
Dan's obituary includes "In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont (www.careofthepiedmont.org) whose wonderful staff provided great care and support to Dan and the family in his last days." The SAOCA Board just voted unanimously to send a $1,000 contribution in Dan's memory to the organization. Any members who would also like to honor Dan's memory are encouraged to donate to them as well.
 
I can't begin to explain how helpful Dan was to me for my SI V6 conversion project. I literally could not have done it without him. Over the past years that I've been working on it we exchanged hundreds of emails, photos, etc and nearly that many phone calls. His generosity and friendship should serve as an example for all of us. I feel very fortunate that I was able to visit him a couple years ago and spend the day with him in his shop and all the various projects he was working on...I really treasure that experience. I only learned of his illness a few weeks ago when I called him with one of my innumerable dumb questions...I was floored with the news but we chatted for almost an hour about various Sunbeam items. It's sadly ironic that my project is literally going to be finally finished and on the road next week around the time of Dans' services.
 
Dan was the best of the best. A true friend and always going out of his way to be helpful.
He was always inventive with making modified kits and odd engine installations (if it didn't fit, he would find a way to make it fit).
A great loss to all and we'll miss you but never forget you Dan.
 
Red car drove sweet all the way to Greenwood, ready for Dan's service tomorrow. Quite an experience, nice long drive in nature's cathedral of North Georgia....and the rivers of South Carolina.
 
Dan's funeral was today-he was buried with full military honors. His whole family was there as well as his grandchildren. Shannon drove his Alpine from Florida and Greg and his wife were there with their Alpine from Georgia. Eight SAOCA members attended and Dan's family was very grateful that we were there. They also appreciate all of the memories of Dan that are posted here on our forum.
It was a very moving service for a man that was loved by so many.
 
Special thanks to the all the Sunbeam people who were able to attend Dan's funeral. Although I couldn't be there I feel blessed to have met him about three years ago when on a driving trip from Charleston SC to Athens GA I made arrangements to visit and pick up some parts. Couldn't ask for a nicer and more helpful person. Like everyone else I'll miss him. He was truly unique in what he was able to accomplish and share.
 
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