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Williamsburg Funeral Home
Williamsburg Funeral Home
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03/03/1959 -12/21/2024
Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island
Funeral Services
Graveside funeral service with military honors, conducted by Rev. Marty Hodge, will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 4501 US Hwy 377, Salters, SC 29590.
Visitation
Dan’s family will greet friends and family following the service in the Martin Building at the church.
Memorials
Memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, c/o Diane Boyd, 114 E. Brooks Street, Kingstree, SC 29556.
Ector Daniel “Dan” Shepard, Jr., 65, husband of Penny Burnett Shepard, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet. Dan’s legacy is one of honor, service, dedication, and devoted love for his family and friends.
Dan was born March 3, 1959, in Kingstree, the son of the late Ector Daniel Shepard and Bevis Boyd Shepard. He was a graduate of Winyah High School and a graduate of The Citadel Class of 1981, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He was a member of the prestigious Summerall Guards. He also received a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas.
Dan served his country with honor during his 9 years of active-duty service in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Captain and Instructor Navigator for the KC-135 aircraft, specializing in global air refueling operations. He served at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas and Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. Following his Air Force service, Dan’s professional life was marked by his successful accomplishments in the management of automotive and metals manufacturing industries, working with Schlumberger, Holset, Bosch, Mahle, and Arcosa before retiring.
In addition to his wife Penny, Dan is survived by his daughter, Matelon S. (Dave) DeFreese and his beloved granddaughter, Hayley DeFreese, of Summerville, and a sister, Carol (C.J.) Morgan of Scurry, Texas.
Graveside funeral service with military honors, conducted by Rev. Marty Hodge, will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 4501 US Hwy 377, Salters, SC 29590. Dan’s family will greet friends and family following the service in the Martin Building at the church. Memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, c/o Diane Boyd, 114 E. Brooks Street, Kingstree, SC 29556. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com
Dan was born March 3, 1959, in Kingstree, the son of the late Ector Daniel Shepard and Bevis Boyd Shepard. He was a graduate of Winyah High School and a graduate of The Citadel Class of 1981, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He was a member of the prestigious Summerall Guards. He also received a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas.
Dan served his country with honor during his 9 years of active-duty service in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Captain and Instructor Navigator for the KC-135 aircraft, specializing in global air refueling operations. He served at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas and Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. Following his Air Force service, Dan’s professional life was marked by his successful accomplishments in the management of automotive and metals manufacturing industries, working with Schlumberger, Holset, Bosch, Mahle, and Arcosa before retiring.
In addition to his wife Penny, Dan is survived by his daughter, Matelon S. (Dave) DeFreese and his beloved granddaughter, Hayley DeFreese, of Summerville, and a sister, Carol (C.J.) Morgan of Scurry, Texas.
Graveside funeral service with military honors, conducted by Rev. Marty Hodge, will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 4501 US Hwy 377, Salters, SC 29590. Dan’s family will greet friends and family following the service in the Martin Building at the church. Memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, c/o Diane Boyd, 114 E. Brooks Street, Kingstree, SC 29556. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com
Rest peacefully my Citadel Brother. Condolences to all your loved ones.
Our deepest sympathy is with your family. We will miss our dear friend and neighbor, Dan.
Rest in peace brother Dan. Prayers inbound for your family. You will be missed but never forgotten by your Citadel classmates.
My condolences to Penny and the entire family. Dan was the best of friends and he had the gift of lifting people up with his caring and humor. I will miss him deeply. I had the honor of being his classmate at the Citadel and I’m blessed to have had him in my life. Our fathers went to school together in Kingstree and there was a strong bond between us because of where our roots were formed. We were both proud to be South Carolinians and Citadel men. I love you, Dan. I know you’re with our Lord in heaven…Amen.
Prayers for the family and friends,
Dan and Carol grew up across the street from me in Lane. We are cousins and grew up around lots and lots of cousins! We all loved that small town fun!
Our deepest sympathies for your family. We are thinking of you. ❤️
Penny, thoughts and prayers are with you, Matie and the family at this difficult time. Dan had a big impact on my professional life and he will be missed very much. I’m grateful we got the chance to see you two when we were in SC, I had missed is sense of humor and seeing the relationship you two shared. Know that we will be thinking of you!
Penny,
I am so sorry for your loss. Dan will be missed by all. Prayers for you, your daughter, and granddaughter. I enjoyed the brief time I was able to get to know you when I visited and hope to see you when I visit again.
Penny,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Matie. Dan was one of “my five” and I treasure the memories of time spent with him. I feel privileged to have been able to call him “Danny” without recourse. You and Dan shared a life and relationship that all who knew you respected and admired. Danny will be missed.