Daniel Greg Spurling

Daniel "Dan" Greg Spurling

February 15, 1954 - June 18, 2026

Daniel "Dan" Greg Spurling was born on February 15, 1954, in Cambridgeshire, England. In the early morning hours of June 18, 2026, he peacefully entered into the presence of the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his father, Daniel "Dan" Spurling, in 2020, and his mother, Gwenda "Debbie" Spurling, in 2025.

Dan attended Aycock Junior High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, and grew up spending summers at Tanglewood Swimming Club, where he made lifelong friendships that carried through the decades.

In 1969, Dan's father was stationed in Alaska, and the family moved there for several years. Those years became some of Dan's favorite memories, and he often spoke of his time in Alaska with great fondness.

In 1972, Dan graduated from Enloe High School. He went on to continue his education at North Carolina State University, where he studied Computer Science.

From a young age, Dan had a passion for photography. He photographed weddings, friends, nature, and eventually pursued a career rooted in that passion. In the spring of 1976, he graduated from Randolph Technical College, where he earned his Associate Degree in Photography. During his time there, he formed many lifelong friendships that he deeply cherished and maintained until his passing.

After earning his photography degree, Dan continued his education through night classes studying Mechanical Drafting. In 1990, he graduated with 4.0 High Honors, earning a second Associate Degree, this time in Computer Programming.

In 1978, Dan began his career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation in the photogrammetry unit. His work combined technical skill, photography, mapping, and precision. He was later promoted to aerial photographer, a role that allowed him to fly in several different aircraft while capturing aerial photographic coverage of engineering projects used for mapping and planning the state highway system. He went on to serve as photogrammetry lab supervisor and retired after 35 years of dedicated service to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Dan was a dedicated NC State Wolfpack fan, cheering faithfully for both football and basketball. For many years, he was a season ticket holder for NC State Men's Basketball, a tradition he especially enjoyed sharing with his mother, Debbie. His love for Wolfpack football was so strong that he even took a part-time job working security for Event One Staffing so he could attend NC State home football games in person for free.

Dan had a deep love for the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Fishing became one of his greatest passions and brought him meaningful friendships that he treasured throughout his life.

Dan was also a firearm enthusiast. He collected, studied, cataloged, and became deeply knowledgeable about firearms. After retiring from NCDOT, he worked as the Gun Librarian at Cabela's in Garner, North Carolina, where he was able to continue sharing his knowledge and passion with others.

In 1981, Dan married Diane, his beloved wife of 45 years. Together, they had two children, Dare and Daniel. Over the years, their family grew to include five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Dan will be remembered for his sharp mind, loyal friendships, love of a good story, and the humor he shared so freely with those around him. In every stage of his life, and through each passion he pursued, Dan created deep and lasting friendships that spanned decades and remained meaningful until his passing.

Dan is survived by his wife, Diane; his children, Dare (Adam) and Daniel (Emily); his grandchildren, Ty, Tayler, Jack, Stella, and Swayze; his great-grandchildren, Georgia and Birdie; his brother, David (Dawn); and his loyal canine companion, TJ, named after his first two grandsons, Ty and Jack.

The family will welcome friends for a time of visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 11:45 A.M. on June 27, 2026, at McCullers Community Baptist Church, 133 Rand Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at 12:00 P.M. Lunch will be served at 1:00 P.M., and the family invites guests to share a meal, a memory, or a favorite story of Dan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in remembrance of Dan Spurling to Able to Serve (https://www.abletoserve.org) or Coastal Conservation Association North Carolina (CCA NC https://ccanc.org).