Lawrence Daniel (Dan) Hitchens

Lawrence Daniel (Dan) Hitchens was born January 22, 1951 in Elkton, MD., as the 11th child of John William and Harriett Marie Lee Hitchens and was one of 8 boys and 3 girls.  Dan was raised in historic olde New Castle, Delaware and was a 1970 graduate of William Penn High School in New Castle. 

As part of a tri-state commissioned group, Dan joined the US Navy and did basic naval training in San Diego, CA as a member of company 110.  After basic training, he was assigned to the USS Jason Navy Hospital ship prior to being assigned to Balboa Hospital in San Diego for Hospital Corpsman training.  Upon completing training, he was assigned to the USS Wabash as a Hospital Corpsman doing two tours in Viet Nam from 1971 to 1975.

Dan attended Orange County University in CA. and received Real Estate Training at Widener University and Cape Fear Community College.  He was a co-owner of Draper Real Estate in Wilmington, DE and Wilmington, NC. 

Dan worked as a Director in Senior Retirement Communities in Hockessin, Delaware (Cokesbury Village) and in Coatesville, Pennsylvania (Freedom Village).

In 2006, Dan retired and moved with his husband James to Richmond, VA where he served as Vice President of Prime Timers of Central Virginia and was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.  In 2009, Dan and Jim were retired and moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL where Dan was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church and served the Church as Jr. Warden of the Vestry, as a member of the Alter Guild, and as an Ecumenical Minister.

As a member of All Saints Episcopal Church and later St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Conway, SC., Dan was active in the Education for Ministry (EFM) programs.  At St. Anne’s, Dan founded the EFM program and was certified as an EFM counselor by the University of the South in Sewanne, TN. 

He is survived by his husband, James Gross and his two step children Jennifer Greenstein (Brad) of Myrtle Beach, SC and Scott Gross (LaDora Riegel) of Wilmington Delaware and four step grand children - Taylor and Campbell Greenstein and Jade and Odin Riegel-Gross.  He is survived by one sister, Pernola Mcmahan of New Castle, Delaware and numerous nieces, nephews; great nieces and nephews; and great great nieces and nephews.  Also surviving is Dan’s former wife, Bonnie Miller, of Puerto, Rico.

Internment will be in the columbarium at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale Florida.  Donations can be made to St. Jude’s children’s hospital or St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Conway, SC. 

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