John Nelson Daniel

Memorial services for former Square D Vice President John Nelson Daniel will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. A celebration of life reception for family and friends will follow in the courtyard of Double Tree Biltmore. Mr. Daniel, who was a driving force in Asheville's business and civic leadership for more than 40 years, died April 10 at John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville. He was 85. Mr. Daniel and his family moved to Biltmore Forest in 1961 when he was assigned to open and manage Square D's first plant in North Carolina. He retired in 1986 as Vice President of Square D's Control Division, with responsibility for six manufacturing plants in five states. For almost 40 years, Mr. Daniel was a leading contributor to the Asheville community, sharing in the vision for Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center as its co-founder and in numerous charitable organizations. As a tireless and persuasive fund-raiser, he helped to raise millions of dollars for worthwhile endeavors, including a multi-million dollar donation that secured creation of the Solace Center, where he quietly passed away. A creative storyteller and clever prankster, Mr. Daniel was an engaging personality in the presence of presidents as well as friends on the golf course. He was devoted to his family and delighted in spending time with his grandchildren, who knew him simply as "Big D." He was interested in politics and assisted many local candidates. In his only personal campaign in 1968, he was the first Republican in 40 years to be elected as a Buncombe County Commissioner. Mr. Daniel's greater legacy, however, was realized in his civic efforts. A former president of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, he was honored in 1989 with the prestigious "Big A Award" for service to the community. Among his many other honors were the Western Carolina Industries Heritage Award for career-long service to business; Volunteer of the Year by the N.C. Association of Arts Councils; and United Way's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The residents of Western North Carolina recognized him as one of the region's "50 Most Influential People of the Century." Mr. Daniel was a member of Biltmore Forest Country Club and the Asheville Downtown City Club where he was a director and president. He was a member of All Souls Episcopal Church. A native of Tranquility, Calif., he was born on August 24, 1922 and graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles with movie star classmates Lana Turner, Judy Garland and Alexis Smith. He was a U.S. Navy lieutenant in World War II and was stationed aboard the USS Missouri when the Japanese formally surrendered to Gen. Douglas Macarthur. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1946 from Iowa State University, where he met his wife of 63 years, Jeanne, and began as a Design Engineer with Southern California Edison Co. A year later he began a distinguished career in management with Square D Co., with assignments in Los Angeles and Seattle before moving to Asheville. In addition to his wife, survivors are a son, John N. Daniel Jr. and wife, Susan, of Evansville, Ind.; a daughter, Debbie Daniel Pope and husband, Larry, of Asheville; a brother, Kenneth, of California; four grandchildren, John N. Daniel III, Kathryn Daniel Schymik, Dr. Alley Jeanne Killian and Daniel Marcus Killian; a step-grandson, Brad Pope; and three great-grandchildren, Emma Hutton Daniel, John Brigham Daniel and Jackson Murray Schymik. Memorials may be made to the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.