Daniel Evan Strayer

Daniel Evan Strayer, aged 88, of Centerville, Ohio, died September 6, 2023 of complications of myodysplastic syndrome. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Phyllis Strayer (née Dobben), sons Jonathan strayer (Lori), Geoff Strayer (Candace ), daughter Joanna Amberger (Christoph), and grandchildren Max Amberger, Sebastian Amberger, Sophie Amberger, Daniel Strayer and Brianna Strayer. He is predeceased by his parents, Robert and Alice Strayer, and sister Kathryn Church.



Daniel Strayer was born on March 18, 1935, in Belfountaine, Ohio, and grew up in DeGraff, Ohio where he worked in his family’s general store. He earned his BA from Ohio Wesleyan University where he attended on an ROTC scholarship. After working for a year in banking in New York, Dan returned to Ohio where he married his college sweetheart Phyllis and embarked on his first career in the US Air Force. As an U.S. Air Force officer, he and his young family moved to Belgium, where he served at NATO headquarters in Brussels. It was there that he developed a love of bicycle touring, a passion he shared with his wife and children into his 80s. After returning stateside, he taught at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs before moving back to Ohio where he earned his PhD at Ohio State University. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Air Force after serving for 22 years. He then worked at NCR, TRW, and the University of Michigan, before retiring from state Government of Ohio. Dan was an inveterate reader and had a lifelong passion for classic cars, history, world travel with family and friends, and music. He enjoyed volunteering as a docent at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. A memorial service will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church 1:00 pm Tuesday, September 19. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 pm Tuesday after services. Interment, Centerville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the the Air Force Museum Foundation or the Southminster Music Ministries.