Danny Blanton Wortman

Danny Blanton Wortman, 91, of Lenoir, passed away peacefully on Nov. 30, 2024, at Bermuda Village Health Center in Bermuda Run.

Dan was born on August 30, 1933, to Loy Aaron and Maude Blanton Wortman in Cliffside, NC.  He graduated from Cliffside High School in 1951 and Wake Forest University in 1955 with a BA in Business Administration.  At Wake Forest he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Following college, he served in the United States Navy as a commissioned officer assigned to Airborne Early Warning Squadron 12 (VW-12), as an Airborne Air Controller stationed in Hawaii.  He was honorably discharged in January 1959.

Dan married his childhood sweetheart, Martha Ann Watkins on Oct. 14, 1956.  Together they raised two daughters, Danna and Jackie.  The Wortman family lived in Rutherfordton and Asheville before moving to Lenoir in 1970, where Dan was Vice-President of Human Resources for Bernhardt Furniture Company.  He was instrumental in founding the BIP Federal Credit Union at Bernhardt and served as its president for 20 years before retiring in 1997. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lenoir since 1970, where he served in various capacities including multiple terms on the Board of Deacons, served as chairman, and was elected Life Deacon. Dan was always an active member of the community.  He served as chairman of the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, president of the Caldwell County United Way, and was a long-term member of and past-president of the Lenoir Rotary Club. He was a member of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) and served as president of the Human Resources Division.  He served two terms as a member of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the NC State Baptist Convention. Former Governor of North Carolina James G. Martin awarded Dan membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1992.

He was an avid golfer and could often be found on the links with his buddies at Cedar Rock Country Club.  He also enjoyed and faithfully followed Wake Forest Demon Deacon sports.  His wry humor was enjoyed by all who knew him.

Dan (Danny, Daddy, Pop) was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 33 years, Martha.

He is survived by daughters Danna Wortman (Tom Adams) of Winston-Salem and Jackie Reynolds (Joey) of Denver; grandchildren Stephanie Lemmerman (Karen) of Huntersville, Ross Howard (Laura) of Mooresville, Brady Lemmerman (Sara) of San Francisco, CA, Carter Lemmerman (Melissa) of Mocksville, and Jack Howard (Hayley) of Charlotte; great-grandchildren Emma Howard, Olivia Howard, Adelie Lemmerman, Callen Lemmerman and Charles (Chip) Lemmerman.  He is also survived by his dear friend, Aura Sticklen.

The family respectfully requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Lenoir or to a charity of choice.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Lenoir with a Celebration of Life to follow at 2:00 PM with Dr. Josh Hughes and Dr. David Smith officiating.  A private burial will follow.

Online condolences for the family can be left at evansfuneralservice.com.

Evans Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Danny Blanton Wortman.