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    • Delaware man put family first before ‘erratic’ driver fatally hits him
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    Delaware man put family first before ‘erratic’ driver fatally hits him

    Harry Posted on

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    When it comes to the Turtles, Danny Rankin Jr. He was not discriminating.

    Box turtles, spotted turtles, bog turtles, even snapping turtles. If the 40-year-old man saw one on the road or at risk of injury, he would move it to a safer location.

    Rankin’s family isn’t sure when his interest in reptiles began, but that wouldn’t change. Although it might seem like childish admiration to some, his family said it was perfectly logical.

    “He loved the turtles because he always said they were helpless,” said Rankin’s son, Danny Rankin III, 23. “Little Dan,” he says.

    “He said: ‘They move too slowly; they’re not predators,’” Little Dan said. “They were all turtles, all shapes and sizes.”

    For the past 10 months, turtles in Delaware have been a little less safe without Rankin around. This happened thanks to a 37-year-old man who, police say, got behind the wheel of his car while under the influence of drugs on the evening of January 24.

    Police said Henry Harmon of Dover was driving a Kia Soul “erratically” on Route 13 in Townsend when he struck Rankin around 5:20 p.m.

    Rankin, a fitness enthusiast who was training for the 50-kilometer Spartan Race, went for a run, his wife, Danielle Rankin, said. Police said he was wearing bright, reflective clothing at the time.

    “There was only a 3-mile run that day,” Danielle lamented.

    Rankin died at the scene of the accident. Harmon, who had a woman and a 4-year-old child in the car, was initially charged with driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, driving on a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.

    In June, the charges were upgraded to involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment; both felonies, misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, and five traffic offenses. He will go to trial next month.

    While Rankin’s family and loved ones mourn the loss of their turtle-loving husband, father and friend, they also take solace in the fact that Rankin “lived his life to the fullest and died with zero regrets,” Danielle said.

    ‘Making a difference in everyone’s life’

    Neither Rankin nor his wife had a particularly easy childhood. Danielle said they both came from “broken homes”, with her husband living largely alone by the time he was 16.

    So when the high school sweethearts learned Danielle was pregnant when she was 16 and Rankin was 17, they worked to make sure their fledgling families broke the mold.

    “We just wanted it to be different for our kids,” Danielle said.

    They were different.

    The day after little Dan was born, Rankin was preparing to graduate. Even while Danielle was still in the hospital with her infant son, Rankin still managed to get on stage. Danielle said she’s been “torturing it ever since.”

    The couple bought a house together when they were 18 and 19. When their daughter Delani, now 19, was born a few years later, Rankin trained even harder.

    He was working for a sprinkler company at the time. However, he also took on odd jobs to ensure his family had everything they needed and because he enjoyed working.

    Later in 2011, Rankin and Danielle started a roofing company. Kirkin Exterior. It has since expanded to offer numerous other outhouse services.

    Although the business was going very well for her, Danielle said Rankin was never focused on the money. He really enjoyed keeping busy, which meant “every time he did something he was 110%.”

    Danielle said her ultimate “why” is herself; Little Dan; Their 19-year-old daughter Delani’; and later, two children whom they fostered and adopted.

    “He always said, ‘I wouldn’t have done any of this if it wasn’t for you and the kids,'” Danielle said.

    But Rankin showed the same care for his employees.

    About seven years ago, the couple began hosting annual company-wide retreats.

    Danielle said Rankin would happily give out holiday bonuses. But her husband wanted to give employees memories and joy instead of cash they could spend paying credit card bills or spending on less enjoyable things.

    For four days the entire company would go to an all-inclusive resort. Danielle said the business is “like a family” so they can bring their kids and escape from life for a while.

    “This was important to him; he wanted to create memories with his people,” Danielle said.

    Rankin’s interests extended beyond those he knew well.

    Like the helpless turtles, he never failed to stop when he saw someone in need.

    Many times Little Dan and Danielle said they would pick up a homeless person from the side of the road and take him to lunch. “It was just the norm,” Little Dan said with a smile in his voice.

    “It didn’t need to be done and it didn’t fit into his schedule, but it was something he did,” he said. “He lived his life not only to serve his family, but to make an overall difference in the lives of everyone he touched and passed.”

    In honor of Rankin’s love of fitness and desire to give back, the family will host a 5K race at Midnight Oil Brewing Co. in Glasgow on Saturday, November 16. All proceeds will be donated to the Delaware Wrestling Alliance, an organization dear to Rankin and his sons’ hearts.

    The race will start at 9 a.m. with a celebration at the brewery following the run. For more information or to sign up, visit: runsignup.com/Race/DE/Newark/DanRankinMemorial5K.

    Got a clue? Send to Isabel Hughes at [email protected] or 302-324-2785. For breaking news, follow him on X at @izzihughes_

    Harry
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