Ex-Navy officer protected U.S. worldwide
Whether Daniel Stonebraker was serving aboard ship in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm or installing security systems in U.S. embassies around the world, he was doing what he felt was his duty -- protecting his country.
"My husband came from a long line of Navy men who served their country in several wars," said Michelle Stonebraker. "And Dan has passed down this sense of duty to our three sons, who understand why their father had been away from them for so many long periods of time."
Daniel Craig Stonebraker, of Elizabeth Township, a retired Navy chief petty officer, died of cancer Friday, March 18, 2005 at his home. He was 42.
Since retiring from the Navy in 2003, Mr. Stonebraker, because of his high-security clearances, was hired by ManTech International Corp. of Fairfax, Va., to install security systems in U.S. embassies.
"Dan installed systems in Paris and in South America before he became too ill to travel," said his wife.
"It wasn't easy being the family of a career Navy man," she added. "In the 22 years that we were married, we lived in California, Washington state, Illinois, Florida and Virginia.
"The longest time we spent together as a family while Dan was on duty was in Farmville, Va., where he was a Navy recruiter," said Stonebraker. "It was a friendly Southern town, where we made friends and Dan was able to meet his recruiting quota.
"I'm sure that on numerous occasions the long separations can be difficult on a family, but our sons and myself understood what serving his country meant to Dan."
Born in Charleroi, Washington County, and raised in Elizabeth Township, Daniel Stonebraker was one of two sons in the family of William and Dianne Krepps Stonebraker.
His father, an insurance agent, served in the Navy during World War II.
While attending Elizabeth Forward High School, Daniel Stonebraker attended classes in electronics at Steel Valley Vocational High School in Munhall to prepare for a career as an electrician.
It was at Elizabeth Forward High School that he met Michelle Ruschak, his future wife.
"Dan was a senior, and I was a junior," said Mrs. Stonebraker. "We were engaged during my last year of high school and married in 1983. As soon as Dan graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to sea duty as an electrician.
"Like all Navy career men, Dan had to serve six years on sea duty," said his wife. "I studied to be an X-ray technician, which I was able to utilize during his early tour of duty."
Mrs. Stonebraker recalled her husband's involvement in Operation Desert Storm.
"Dan was stationed on one of he Navy backup ships in the Persian Gulf. Although he didn't see action, he was pleased on how the war ended with the withdrawal of the Iraqi troops from Kuwait, and he had some small part in the action."
Mr. Stonebraker is survived by his wife, Michelle A. Ruschak Stonebraker; sons, Jacob D., Jarid M. and Justin T. Stonebraker, all at home; his parents, William and Dianne Krepps Stonebraker of Elizabeth Township; and a brother, David Stonebraker, also of Elizabeth Township.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 6028 Smithfield St., in the Boston section of Elizabeth Township.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he was a member, with the Rev. Andrew Wahl officiating. Interment with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
