Born in Greenwood, he was the son of Betty Watkins Branyon and the late Howard Campbell Branyon. He was a member and deacon of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church. As a member of the committee to renovate the entire physical plant of First Baptist Church, he developed a philanthropy plan that helped lead the church family to completely fund the entire project without having to borrow any funds. He enjoyed teaching and the fellowship of dozens of good men as teacher of the Garner-Memorial Sunday School Class. A 1972 graduate of Ware Shoals High School, he earned BA degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina, Class of 1976.

He began his career as Sports Editor of the Laurens County Advertiser and was founder and publisher of The Observer newspaper for 39 years. He served as Director of Public Relations as Self Regional Healthcare for over 24 years. He was a member and President of the Ware Shoals Community Foundation and a member of the Ware Shoals Schools Hall of Fame Committee since its inception. He was a member and past president of the Ware Shoals Lions Club.

Dan’s family has been a part of Laurens County community since 1788. The Daniels were recruited to the county to address the dire need for teachers in the Upstate frontier of South Carolina. He served  27 years on the Board of Directors of Piedmont Rural Telephone Cooperative. He served 22 of those years as Board President.

Dan is survived by his wife of 43 years, Faye Cooper Branyon; a son, Caleb Daniel “Cal”  Branyon of Ware Shoals; a daughter, Betty Ann Branyon McCullough (Travis) of Donalds; six grandchildren, Cooper Branyon, Harper Williams, Amaris Branyon, Wylie McCullough, Tate McCullough, and Sidda McCullough. He was predeceased by his father, Howard C. Branyon and a sister, Debbie Branyon Hudgens.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 2 at the Ware Shoals First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Floyd Parker and Rev. Dan Compton officiating. Burial will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park, Hodges.

Active Pallbearers will be Cooper Branyon, Billy Ray Strickland, Wylie McCullough, Will Daniel Hudgens, Terry Boyter, Mike McWhorter, Kevin Smiley, and Len Taylor. Honorary Pallbearers will be Deacons of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, members of the Garner-Memorial Goodwill Sunday School Class, directors and staff of Piedmont Rural Telephone Cooperative, and members of Ware Shoals High School, class of 1972.

The family is at the home and will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 449, Ware Shoals, SC 29692. Messages of condolence may be made at www.ParkerWhitePruitt.com