Dan Backus was Navy veteran

BELLFLOWER – Irving Daniel ‘Dan’ Backus of Bellflower, 85, passed away Dec. 2 in Escondido. 

He was the son of Clyde Clifford Backus and Lillian Lucille Lester. He was born in Grapeville, Pa., on March 30, 1930 and raised in nearby Jeannette, Pa. After graduating from Jeannette High School in 1948, he joined in the Navy. 

After 30 years of service, he retired from the Navy, CWO4, as the Director of the Machinery Repairman’s School. For the first year after his retirement from the Navy, he worked for Northrup Services writing a course of instruction in Basic Machine Shop Practices. 

In March 1980, he went to work for the San Diego Community College District, working at the 32nd St. Naval Base, San Diego, as a Military Associate Dean until his retirement in 1996. 

He lived a full life after his retirement with his longtime fiance, Darla Ann Fuess, who preceded him in death in 2007. They were members of the local American Legion’s in Norwalk and Lakewood, along with other affiliations that included the local Moose, Eagle, Elk and VFW’s. 

Dan is survived by his five children, Ricky Ray Backus of Pryor, Oklahoma; Karen Lanell Meyer of Gooding, Idaho; Andra Gail Backus of Borrego Springs, CA; Sandra Renee Saraceni of Carmel, NY and Alisa (Gary) Rose of Escondido, CA. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; and by his sister, Margaret ‘Ellen’ Snyder of Kansas. 

In accordance with Dan’s wishes, no formal services will be held.