Daniel F. Comly Sr. of Havertown, Pa., passed away on March 31. He was 87.

Born in Philadelphia on Dec. 22, 1926, and raised in Drexel Hill, Mr. Comly graduated from St. Andrew’s Grade School and West Catholic High School. Upon graduation he entered The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina where he completed his first year. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, was selected for Midshipman School and was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve at Northwestern University in 1945. His Naval service included tours aboard the USS Doran, a minesweeper in the South Pacific and the USS Randolph, an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic European Theater at the conclusion of World War II. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War where he served aboard the USS Isherwood in the South Atlantic area and as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Damage Control Center at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia. He was released from active duty as a Lieutenant in 1953.

For the next 40 years, Mr. Comly worked as an auctioneer with his family’s firm Wm. F. Comly & Son Inc., established in Philadelphia in 1834. He was the fifth generation of his family to work in the business, starting out on the floor and working his way up to partner and then owner and president.

After his semi-retirement from the family business, Mr. Comly worked countless hours to preserve his family’s documents that dated back to the 1830s to the present. He recently donated many of his family’s priceless documents to the Pennsylvania Historical Society, so that future generations may be inspired by the past and Comly’s history.

Mr. Comly was an active member of St. Bernadette’s parish where he served in numerous capacities. He was an avid golfer and member of the Llanerch Country Club where he served a term as president.

Mr. Conly was the beloved husband of the late Patricia B. Comly (nee Barrow) and the loving father of William (Lynne) Comly, Patricia (Dr. Richard) Pascucci, Daniel (Vicky) Comly Jr., Stephen (Donna) Comly, Andrew (Joanne) Comly, Mary (Michael) McGann, Elizabeth (Joseph) Rafferty, Suzanne (William) Gennaro, Margaret (Francis) Wiseley, Peter (Amy) Comly and Christine Comly. He also is survived by 46 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and his sisters Suzanne McNelis, Elizabeth Mueller and Kathryn (Joseph) Huver. He was predeceased by his infant son James Barrow Comly.

Memorial gifts may be made to Neighborhood Hospice, 400 E. Marshall St., West Chester, Pa. 19380 or Pennsylvanians for Human Life, 590 Snyder Ave., West Chester, Pa.

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