Danny Edward Lakes

Danny Edward Lakes was born on December 14, 1948, in Culloden, West Virginia in Cabell County which is part of the Huntington/Ashland metropolitan area. He was the eldest of four children born to Frances Lea Foster Lakes and Winfred Edward Lakes.

Danny passed away on February 1, 2026, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky surrounded by family. He suffered a fractured hip on 1/23/2026 and did not recover from the surgery due to complications related to his 15-year battle with Parkinson's.

Danny is survived by his wife Shelley of 38 years, a daughter Carly, two stepsons Evan Webster, Zachary Webster, and wife Elizabeth and their three children: Jackson, Izzy, and Annalise. Danny's surviving siblings are Randy Lakes, Linda Lakes, Rhonda Lakes Meleen, two nieces Leanne Lakes, Corinne Watts, and one nephew Tennison Watts.

Danny grew up in West Virginia until his family moved to La Plata Maryland in 1958. He loved trout fishing, bird and deer hunting and playing golf with his dad and his brother. He was a great lover of animals, especially dogs. He attended La Plata High School where he played football and graduated with honors in 1966.

He attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia S.C. on a full Navy ROTC scholarship graduating in January of 1971 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation from college Danny received his commission into the Navy attending the Navy Supply Corps School at Athens, Georgia and graduating on September 16, 1971. After graduation from Navy Supply Corps School, he served on the USS Austin as Lieutenant Junior Assistant Supply Officer assigned as Dispersing Officer, Sales Officer, and Food Officer from 1971-1974. He received a letter of Commendation for performance of duties while deployed with the Sixth Fleet. His professional competence, hard work, and ability to secure good morale among the crew was documented in this letter as significant in the Supply Department being awarded it's fifth consecutive Supply Efficiency Award (Gold "E"-Fiscal Year 1973) Danny was most proud of his time working as Supply Officer to the Mobile Training Team for the Thai Navy in April of 1974.

In 1974 Danny received the rank of Lieutenant and a promotion to Supply Expediting Officer in charge of expediting Material Requisitions for ships of the Type Commander. Danny resigned from active duty on January 5, 1975. After leaving active-duty Danny served in the Navy drilling reserves and the Cargo Handling Unit while attending the University of South Carolina as a graduate student. He received a master's degree in business administration in 1976

Following graduate school Danny accepted a position with PPG chemical plant in Lake Charles Louisiana. He was employed with PPG from 1976 to 1986. He also taught computer and business courses at McNeese College in Lake Charles until 1987. He then accepted a position as process engineer for Lobeco Inc., a Chemical plant in Beaufort, S. C.

On December 17, 1988, he married Shelley Ables Webster. In 1989 he accepted a position as process engineer for Neste Resins in Andalusia, Alabama. During his career with Neste Resins now Arclin, Inc., he worked both process and production engineering and before receiving a promotion to plant manager of the Andalusia plant. In 2001 he transferred to Apex N.C., taking over the plant manager position at the Moncure plant. Two to three years prior his retirement in the fall 2015 he stepped down from the plant manager position accepting a position as Senior Process Engineer. In January 2017, Dan and his family moved to Lexington Kentucky to be closer to his eldest stepson and his children and Shelley's sister who lives in Louisville Kentucky.

Danny was a loving and caring person. He was congenial and had a helping attitude and strong work ethic. He always did his upmost best at work or any undertaking that he dealt with in life. He had a keen sense of justice and always treated others with fairness and respect. He was loyal, and intelligent with an aptitude for learning and solving problems and helping others to achieve success. He was a wonderful husband, loving father, and stepfather. He was a good friend, a brother, and my soul mate. His life touched many people along the way and as his wife I will always be indebted to him for the love and support, he gave me along this journey of life. His love and protection still surround me as I continue to go forward. Rest in Peace my love you will never be forgotten.