Richard F. Daniels

Richard “Dick” Daniels died peacefully at his home In Lake Milton, Ohio on November 21, 2021, at the age of 91. He was born in a farmhouse in Hicksville, Ohio on July 30, 1930, to Maurice and Minnie (Trimble) Daniels. He was preceded in death by his brother George Daniels, sister Wanetta (Daniels) Belknap, his first wife Nancy (Brown) Daniels, his stepson Raymond Edward Fox, and grandson Case Edward Phillips.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Connie (Horn) Daniels and four children, Stephen Daniels, Keith Daniels, Larry Daniels, and John Daniels as well as 5 stepchildren Kathy (Fox) Dowda, Karen (Fox) Grippa, Ron Fox, Kay Fox, and Sidney Neeley. Along with twenty-three grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren with one more on the way.

Most of the large, blended family lived together in Beaver Falls, Pa, then Hartville, Ohio then for the last 37 years in Lake Milton which had been a summer home for the family for over 80 years.

He was a truck driver early in life making his first trip to St. Louis for a bakery in Hicksville before he was even 18 years old. He served in the Air Force as a weatherman reporting to the pilots from Okinawa during the Korean War. The Airforce wanted him to go to meteorology school, but in his words “I always wanted to drive a truck.” After the war he resumed driving, buying his own L J Mack. He hauled produce and seafood until 1971 when he dispatched for, and later owned, Kandel Transport in Akron, Ohio until he retired in 1992. The business was sold to his son John “Jack” Daniels and has grown to more than sixty trucks today.

Dick did not stay retired long though, coming back to drive for Kandel from 1996 to 2014 when at the age of eighty-four he decided it was time to stop. He was, and still is a legend at Kandel. Dick’s work ethic and generosity to other drivers helped many become better drivers, and better people.

Private family services have been held for Dick. A celebration of life luncheon will be held at the banquet hall at the Comfort Inn 953 Edison Street, S.W., Hartville, Ohio 44632 on December 11, 2021, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM with an opportunity to share memories at 2:30 PM.

To leave condolences to the family please visit www.lanefuneralhomes.com