Daniel Joshua Wendell

Daniel Joshua Wendell

April 26, 1993 - July 28, 2021

Daniel Joshua Wendell, 28, of Roanoke and Charlottesville, Virginia, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. He is survived by his parents, Jeff and Karla Wendell; his paternal grandmother, Harriet Wendell (Almost 102); aunts and uncles, John and Rosie Hagen, Bart Wendell, and Sandy Whaley; his cousins, Nick Hagen and wife, Melissa, Desiree Hagen, Amelia Wendell, and George Wendell; great-aunt, Trudy Hendricks; and best friend, Devon Goodrich.

Daniel left this earth with an impact on more lives than he ever realized. Those who knew Daniel would describe him as joyful, optimistic, generous, and a humorous old soul. He was an entrepreneur at heart and learned many invaluable lessons watching both his grandfathers in their entrepreneurial pursuits. Growing up in his father's clothing stores, Daniel could often be found assisting customers with a great sales pitch. Daniel was a playful, loving child who could focus and connect very well with everyone around him.

Daniel completely bought into his father's love of cars and racing. At a young age, Daniel developed his true passion for taking incredible care of cars. He began detailing cars in the family garage at the age of 12. He imported car products from England at age 13, serving as national representative for DoDoJuice. In a Roanoke Times article written about then 15-year-old Daniel, he said "Some customers just want their cars to be clean. That's not my target market."

He attended North Cross School and graduated from The University of Virginia. During his UVA senior year, Daniel established his business in Charlottesville, Automotive Aesthetic. In the five years since, he established a national reputation as he and his crew worked on many famous cars and dealt with many celebrities who enjoyed his enthusiasm, honesty, and obvious mastery of his trade. He totally enjoyed inspiring others to learn his passion. It became somewhat of a "thing" to hang out at Daniel's garage. A very close videographer and friend made a series of "art" films of Daniel's work which received notoriety among auto enthusiasts.

Daniel was an honest and loyal friend who held himself to a high standard of integrity. Memories of his contagious laughter and infectious smile will forever remind us to enjoy every moment and to appreciate the aesthetics of life.

A private burial for Daniel was held on August 5, 2021, in Roanoke, and a celebration of Daniel's life is planned.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made via GoFundMe (Keeping Daniels Legacy Alive), which will be used to continue Automotive Aesthetic with a new home keeping Daniel's dream alive. Link: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/keeping-daniels-legacy-alive. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.oakeys.com.