Dan Rider passed away Sunday, October 24, 2010 at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Adella (Guerra) Rider; sons Richard Rider and his wife Marlene and Tony Rider; grandchildren, Mike Smith, Jeffery Smith, Aja Hensley, Kamie Anderson, and Erin Nielson, eight great granddaughters and two great grandsons.

Dan was a U.S. Postal carrier for 30 years for Lompoc and Vandenberg Air Force Base. After retiring, he worked for a local security service company and pursued his life long dream of hunting and trapping. Dan was featured in national hunting magazines including "Western Outdoor News" and in 1971 "Gun World" for his talent to call and trap varmints. There is also an albino coyote caught near Lompoc city limits on display at the Lompoc museum that Dan donated in the mid 1970's. The Lompoc newspaper had also written an article with many photos of the bow hunter at Surf Beach. To all county farmers, friends, neighbors, and customers he was known as, "Trapper Dan". Dan had the gift of gab, you could always count on a story, and a listening ear, and he knew no strangers....

Dan cherished family times, especially the great grandchildren. "Pompa" was always surrounded by little bitty smiles.

His mother, father, sister, and brother preceded Dan in death.

A vigil service will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary today, October 26, 2010 at 5p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27th at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation hours will be this evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions may be made to La Purisima Concepcion Catholic School, 219 West Olive Avenue, Lompoc 93436.