Daniel Lee Hummer

Daniel Lee Hummer, 81, of Seminole, Florida, entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on May 28, 2026, at Bay Pines VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida.

Dan was born on November 21, 1944, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Aaron and Emma Hummer. He was the third of six children, growing up alongside four brothers and one sister.

Dan proudly served his country in the United States Navy. One of the defining moments of his life occurred while stationed in the Philippines. There, he observed the ministry of missionaries from the Overseas Christian Servicemen’s Centers. Through their example, he sensed God’s call on his life—a call that would shape his next six decades on earth.

After returning home, Dan married the love of his life, Linda Ryland, on August 19, 1966, in Pensacola, Florida. Together they embarked on a journey of faith, family, and service to others that would span nearly 60 years. Their marriage was marked by deep love, unwavering commitment, and a shared desire to serve God wherever He led.

Following his military service, Dan and Linda moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended Trevecca Nazarene College. He later continued his Master of Divinity studies at Nazarene Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Dan and Linda welcomed their three children while Dan balanced his responsibilities as a seminary student and pastor. It was during this time that Dan sensed another call—this time to chaplaincy. After serving a two-year pastorate at North Anderson Free Methodist Church in Anderson, Indiana, he pursued Clinical Pastoral Education and began “crisis ministry” that became his life’s work.

For more than three decades, Dan served veterans and their families through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He spent ten years at Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis before transferring to Bay Pines VA Medical Center in Florida in 1990, where he served for 21 additional years until retirement.

To Dan, chaplaincy was never simply a profession. It was a ministry of presence. He believed that some of life’s most sacred moments occur beside a hospital bed, in times of grief, uncertainty, fear, and loss. He had a unique gift for entering those moments with gentleness, humility, and compassion. Whether offering prayer, listening to a hurting family, or sitting quietly with a veteran facing difficult circumstances, Dan considered caring for people during life’s most difficult moments to be his greatest privilege.

Among his accomplishments, Dan was honored to become the first chaplain at Roudebush VA Medical Center to receive the prestigious Hand and Heart Award in 1985. He served faithfully as President of the Chaplains Association of the Free Methodist Church. He was also instrumental in founding the Bay Pines VA Inpatient Hospice Unit, which served as a model of excellence for VA’s throughout the country. Despite these recognitions, awards and titles never defined him. What mattered most to Dan were the people he served and the God he loved.

Those who knew him will remember his gentle spirit, steadfast faith, servant’s heart, and unwavering devotion to his family. He enjoyed photography, reading, watching NASCAR, eating popcorn, making milkshakes, and building backyard fires. He loved to laugh and delighted in watching his children and grandchildren grow.

Dan’s legacy is not found in buildings, programs, or awards. It is found in the countless lives he touched through kindness, compassion, and the hope of Jesus Christ. He loved the Lord wholeheartedly, and he loved people deeply—especially those who were hurting. That love was evident in every season of his life.

He was preceded in death by his twin sons, Jimmy and Timmy Hummer; his parents, Aaron and Emma Hummer; and four siblings.

Dan is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Hummer; his children, Becky (Gary) Hancock, Jennifer (Vong) Keovongsa, and Daniel (Martha) Hummer; his grandchildren, Ryland Keovongsa, Gabrielle (Evan) Akel, Brady Keovongsa, Eli Hummer, and Will Hummer; his sister, Karen (Barry) Shockey; and many dear friends, colleagues, and extended family members.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, physicians, and staff of Bay Pines VA Medical Center, especially the Palliative Care Team and Medical Intensive Care Unit, for their compassionate and tender care as Dan stepped into the arms of Jesus.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Cornerstone Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. A funeral service celebrating Dan’s life will follow at 2:00 p.m.

Though we will miss his physical presence, we are comforted by the assurance that Dan’s faith has become sight. The One he served so faithfully throughout his life has now welcomed him home with the words every servant longs to hear:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”