Dan Alan Grider

Dan Alan Grider of Ft. Collins, Colorado passed away in his home on Sunday, August 6, 2017. He was born September 25, 1945, in Bremerton, Washington; son of the late Billy Kervin Grider and Doris Edna Bittick Grider. Throughout his life, Dan lived in Washington, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Dan graduated from Dumas High School in 1964, and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in 1969. Following that, he served two years in the US Army, including a year in South Vietnam in 1970, During his tour of duty there, he held the rank of Specialist 5, E-5, served with distinction handling over 1,000 men who were injured or killed in South Vietnam, ultimately, earning the nickname “Can Do Dan”. After he was honorably discharged, he moved to Colorado and married his first wife, Yoshiko Struthers. He ultimately settled in his home in Ft. Collins, Colorado where he lived the rest of his life. He worked at Mountain Bell (US West Communications) until he retired in 2000, where he was instrumental in the installation and servicing of the “911” emergency telephone system throughout the state of Colorado. Dan was a devoted and loving husband. He married his second wife, the late Cynthia Wray Grider in1990; they were married for 25 years until Cynthia passed away in 2015. He loved camping and fishing in the mountains of Wyoming with Cynthia, their friends, and his pet dog Andy. Dan also loved listening to music, and enjoyed spending time meeting and talking with other former members of the U.S. military about their experiences in various overseas military engagements including South Vietnam. Dan is survived by his brothers, David Eugene Grider (wife - Rhonda) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Steven Ray Grider (wife - Minerva) of Dumas, Texas. He is also survived by his first wife, Yoshiko Struthers of Boulder, Colorado, as well as five nieces and nephews, Amy, Emily, Michael, Billy, and Alex. Dan was preceded in death by his father and mother, Billy Kervin Grider (1979) and Doris Edna Grider (2010), as well as his second wife, Cynthia Wray Grider (2015), A Graveside Service with full military honors will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area A, Denver, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in memory of Dan Alan Grider to the United Services Organization (USO) or the Wounded Warrior Project in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Ft. Collins, CO 80524.

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Dan Alan Grider

September 25, 1945 - August 6, 2017