Bluefield University mourns the loss of Dr. Daniel E. Grabeel, Sr., a dedicated servant leader and distinguished dentist.
Dr. Grabeel earned an associate degree from Bluefield College in 1955, when the school was a junior college. As a student, he was a member of the “Rambling Reds” basketball team, and in 1981, he was inducted as a charter member of the institution’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
He served on the university’s Board of Trustees for 25 years across three separate tenures between 1981 and 2010, including six years as Board Chair from 2004 to 2010. In recognition of his leadership and commitment to the university, he was named Trustee Emeritus in 2015.
For over 50 years, Dr. Grabeel was the husband of Marjorie Grabeel, a practicing dentist, and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg. There, he served as a Sunday School teacher, an elder, and a member of the choir. Additionally, he was active in several dental associations and community organizations throughout his life.