Dana Earl Workman

Dana Earl Workman, 76, Proctorville, Ohio, was born November 14, 1948, at Rife Hospital in Kenova, West Virginia. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and immediately joined the United States Air Force. It was at his first station assignment at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand, where he met and married Pranee Chaimunin. Together they raised two daughters. Over a 20 year span they lived in 6 more places and his favorite assignment was Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. They laid down roots in Midwest City after their final assignment at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

He then started a second career at Tinker AFB as a civil servant in communications, earned an associate's degree in computer information systems and ultimately retired in 2009.

During this time, he lovingly cared for Angie's children, taking them on many cross-country vacations including The Grand Canyon & Yellowstone National Park.  His annual eastern pilgrimage to Ohio and Ceredo, West Virginia included visits with Becky's family, his parents, siblings and cousins.

His wife, Pranee, with whom he celebrated 51 years of marriage, passed away in 2021.

In 2023, Dana pulled up roots and re-established them in his childhood town where he met his second love, Bertha Allen.  After a brief courtship, they wed, and he embraced his expanded family. He loved taking Bertha on adventures traveling to Maine and Cancun, as well as taking AJ and Amanda's children to Gatlinburg (remember the rollercoaster?!) and Yellowstone. At the young age of 75, he tried to become a farmhand.

He got to know Becky's children better after moving closer, riding with them on his side by side to visit cows and treating them to a Charlotte Knights game.

Of all the things he loved, his greatest love was grandchildren. Many times, he said if he knew how much fun they were, he would have skipped over kids to only have grandkids.

Dana is survived by his wife, Bertha Verdella Workman, daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Matt Dunehew, daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Steve Dickson, daughter & son-in-law, Amanda and Jared Sowards and son AJ Allen. His 10 grandchildren include Declan, Aidan, Sophia, Rachel, Lily, Jacob, Addie, Reagan, Ryder and Kylee. He was also blessed with a first great-grandchild, Octavia Rae.

Also surviving are brother and sister-in-law, James and Lucy Workman, brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Eva Workman, brother-in-law Stephen Rucker and many nieces & nephews and other extended family members. Dana was preceded in death by his parents, Fred & Lucille Workman; sister, JoAnn Nolan and brother, Greg Workman.

Dana died Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, Huntington, West Virginia, lovingly surrounded by family.

Private Funeral services will be held in the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, Gallipolis, Ohio, at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Dana's Memory to Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House 3100 Staunton Road Huntington WV 25702.

Emogene Dolin Hospice House of Huntington
3100 Staunton Road, Huntington WV 25702