Daniel Lynn Brantley

Daniel Lynn Brantley, age 66, of Aberdeen, Maryland, passed away on July 7, 2024. He was born in Salem, New Jersey, the son of Hugh and Mildred (Sowell) Brantley. Daniel was the loving husband of Kim Brantley.

Growing up, Daniel participated in football and Judo. Daniel himself had been a champion wrestler in high school. His wrestling coach once remarked to the family that “Danny” was the best wrestler he ever had the privilege of coaching. During his senior year of high school, he joined the military. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for 18 years. He was highly decorated and spent many tours overseas, eventually retiring from the Army as a Master Instructor. 

Regarding family, he always desired to improve his relationships. His first priority was his relationship with God. He loved his wife and his sons were never far from his heart. When life overwhelmed him, he often would remark that what kept him going was the love he had for his boys, Aaron and Jeremy. He was actively involved in his community, supporting Harford County Christian Jail Ministry in the early 2000s, resuming his involvement recently. Daniel was a member of a men’s fellowship group devoted to faith in Christ. He was a dedicated member of Emmorton Baptist Church, where he spent every Sunday and Wednesday evening worshiping with his family.

He will always be remembered for his larger-than-life personality. He loved to laugh and his conversations were always intriguing. He prepared his conversations beforehand by taking notes so that when he did speak, he would be efficient. His telling of stories were so engaging that he had the ability to carry you through every emotion and every detail before setting you up with hysterical laughter. Whenever someone asked how he was doing, he would typically reply with “Better now that I see you.” He was a principled man but mixed with charm and charisma. He enjoyed asking historical and biblical trivia questions and was fascinated by military jets and battleships because he enjoyed studying previous U.S battle engagements. He always excitedly shared something he found interesting with those he cared about. One of the highlights of his year was the annual father-son birthday trip he would have with his son Aaron. They enjoyed driving to New Jersey, where they would attend wrestling matches in his hometown of Penngrove. Each year the trip would bring something new and he enjoyed discovering new places. His other passions include studying God’s word, target shooting and spending time with his best friend, Aaron.

Daniel Lynn Brantley will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his dedication to his family, and his commitment to serving The Lord. In heaven, he eagerly awaits being united with family, especially with Jeremy, Charlie and Calum. 

In addition to his wife, Daniel is survived by his sons, Aaron Brantley, and Jeremy (Amy) Brantley; brothers, David Brantley, and Ray Brantley; grandchildren, Charlie Brantley, and Calum Brantley.