Daniel David Oravec

Daniel David Oravec, 84, of Shepherdstown, died peacefully at his home in Steamboat Run on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015.

Born Mar. 31, 1930 to George and Cecelia Oravec, he was raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and graduated from Johnstown Central High School in 1950. He attended Gettysburg College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He served two churches in Pennsylvania before moving to Maryland. In 1964, he founded Good Shepherd Lutheran Chu8rch in Gaithersburg where he served for 34 years.

His ministry was marked by a spirit of love for all people and caring for the needy. Following his retirement, he lived in Frederick, Maryland and then moved to Shepherdstown where he met and married Edwinna Bernat.

Dan is survived by his wife Edwinna, also a Johnstown native; his sister, Ann Hricko of Johnstown; his daughter, Susan Petrie and husband David, of Uniontown, Maryland; his son, David and wife Sandy, of Annapolis, Maryland; stepdaughters, Brenda Hahn and husband Matthew of Berkeley Springs, Becky Bernat of Palo Alto, California and Betsy Kuhn and husband Greg, of Poolsesville, Maryland. Dan had five grandchildren; and six step-grandchildren.

Dan’s Shepherdstown friends and acquaintances are invited to drop by his home at 438 Steamboat Run Road on Saturday, Jan. 24 anytime between 2-4:30 p.m. to visit and share memories.

A formal celebration of Pastor Dan’s life will be held at the church he founded, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m.

For those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Dan’s name, you may do so at The World Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: ELCA Churchwide Ministries, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631.