The Tribute Journal
Obituary for a Father: 10 Examples to Copy
An obituary for a father usually runs 150 to 400 words: his name, age and the date he died, the work and the people that shaped his life, the family he leaves, and the service details. It is most often written by his adult children. Below are ten complete examples, including a veteran, a stepfather and a single dad, plus the practical steps families are rarely told about.
For the general method, see how to write an obituary. If his wife is writing it, our obituary for a husband covers how a widow names herself.
Writing it as his children
- Third person, his name. "Robert loved fishing," not "Dad loved fishing." You can still use "Dad" in a quoted line or the closing.
- Your mother first among survivors. "He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Linda." If your parents divorced, his former wife is usually not listed unless the family wants her to be.
- A stepmother: "his wife, Carol", listed the same way, whether or not she is your mother.
- Stepchildren, his and hers: "his children, Michael and Sarah, and his stepchildren, Daniel and Emily." One sentence, same weight.
- A stepfather or father figure: if the man who raised you was not your biological father, say so warmly: "the only father his stepchildren ever needed."
If he served
Give the branch, era and rank if he was proud of it: "a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam." Take the details from his discharge papers, not memory. Under the VA's guidance, eligible veterans can receive a ceremony that includes "the playing of Taps and the folding and presentation of the American flag," and funeral directors "should request military funeral honors" ideally "at least 48 to 72 hours before a scheduled service." Our obituary for a grandfather has more on writing military service.
What to leave out
AARP advises leaving out "the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name," and never printing his home address. The examples below use a birth year at most and a town, not a street.
1. Short obituary for a father
Paul Edward Schneider, 78, of Toledo, Ohio, died on October 17, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan; his children, Mark, Lisa and Brian; and seven grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 23, at 11 a.m. at the church where he was married.
2. Traditional obituary
Robert James Sullivan, 81, of Omaha, Nebraska, died peacefully on October 14, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Bob worked 38 years for the railroad and never missed a day he could help it. He coached Little League for two decades, could fix any lawnmower on the block, and believed every problem could be solved with a cup of coffee and a long talk at the kitchen table.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; his children, Michael (Karen) Sullivan, Susan (Paul) Grant and Thomas Sullivan; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, James.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with a funeral Mass the next morning at 10 a.m. at his parish church.
3. For a veteran
Chief Petty Officer Raymond Lee Carter, U.S. Navy (Ret.), 77, of Norfolk, Virginia, died on October 11, 2026.
Ray served 24 years in the Navy, including two tours off the coast of Vietnam, then spent another 15 teaching welding at the community college. He was a man of few words, firm handshakes and endless patience with anyone willing to learn.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda; his sons, James and Anthony; his daughter, Monique; and six grandchildren.
A funeral service with military honors will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 11 a.m. at the family's church.
4. Faith-filled obituary
Deacon Willie James Thompson, 83, of Memphis, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on October 13, 2026.
Deacon Thompson served his church for over fifty years, taught the men's Sunday school class and never passed a neighbor in need without stopping. He raised six children on a factory worker's wages and a mountain of faith, and every one of them went to college.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 61 years, Mother Ella Thompson; his children, Willie Jr., Gloria, Kenneth, Brenda, Marcus and Denise; seventeen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A homegoing service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 11 a.m. at the church he served so faithfully.
For a homegoing, our funeral resolution examples cover the tributes churches and deacon boards often present.
5. For a single dad
Daniel Joseph Rivera, 59, of Sacramento, California, died on October 16, 2026.
Dan raised his two daughters on his own from the time they were four and seven, learning to braid hair from online videos and never once missing a parent-teacher conference. He worked nights as a hospital technician so he could be home every afternoon when the school bus came.
He is survived by his daughters, Natalie (Chris) Morgan and Elena Rivera; his granddaughter, Lily; his mother, Rosa; and his brothers, Carlos and Miguel.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 22, at 10 a.m. at his parish church.
6. For a stepfather
Gary Wayne Hoffman, 70, of Boise, Idaho, died on October 10, 2026.
Gary married into a family of three kids when the youngest was five, and from the first day he treated every one of them as his own. He taught them to fish, to drive and to change a tire, and he walked both of his stepdaughters down the aisle.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Diane; his children, Brian and Kelly; his stepchildren, Amanda, Jessica and Ryan, who called him Dad; and eleven grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 2 p.m. at the family's church, with a reception to follow.
7. For a young father
Marcus Anthony Bell, 42, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died suddenly on October 8, 2026.
Marcus was a high school football coach, a deacon in training and a father who turned every car ride into a dance party. His players called him Coach; his kids called him their best friend.
He is survived by his wife, Tanya; his children, Jalen, 14, Aaliyah, 11, and Micah, 6; his parents, James and Doris; and his sisters, Keisha and Monique.
A homegoing service will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 11 a.m. at the church where he served. An education fund has been set up for his children.
8. After a long illness
Thomas Patrick Kelly, 84, of Boston, Massachusetts, died on October 15, 2026, after a long illness, with his family beside him.
Tom was a firefighter for thirty years and a storyteller for all eighty-four. Even as dementia took his memories, he never lost his laugh or his habit of winking at the nurses.
He is survived by his children, Kathleen, Brian, Maureen and Sean; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary. The family is grateful to the hospice team who cared for him at home.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 21, at 10 a.m. at the parish church he attended all his life.
9. After a sudden death
Kevin Michael Brooks, 61, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died unexpectedly on October 12, 2026.
Kevin ran a small auto repair shop for thirty years, and half the cars in his neighborhood still run because of him. He was a football fan, a grill master and the father who drove four hours on a moment's notice whenever one of his kids had a flat tire.
He is survived by his wife, Lori; his children, Jake, Emily and Ben; and his granddaughter, Harper.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 18, from 3 to 6 p.m., and the funeral on Monday, October 19, at 11 a.m., both at the funeral home.
10. For a celebration of life
Richard "Rick" Lawson, 72, of Bend, Oregon, died on October 9, 2026.
Rick was a carpenter, a fly fisherman and a father who believed the best lessons happened outdoors. He taught his kids to read a river, build a fire and tell the truth even when it was hard.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his sons, Tyler and Cody; his daughter, Megan; and five grandchildren.
In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life on Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. at the riverside park where he taught his kids to fish. Dress for the outdoors.
Tips for writing it
- Agree on it as siblings. One of you drafts, the others add memories and check names. Fathers are remembered differently by each child, and that is fine.
- Lead with one specific detail. The kitchen-table talks, the lawnmowers, the four-hour drives. One true detail does more than a list of virtues.
- Choose pallbearers early. Sons, daughters and grandchildren are often asked. Our guide to pallbearers covers who to ask and how to list them.
- Know the cost. Newspapers run family-written obituaries as paid notices. The program version costs nothing extra and can be as long as you like.
If you are also speaking at the service, our eulogy examples include tributes written by sons and daughters.
Common questions
How do I write an obituary for my dad?
Open with his full name, age, city and the date he died. Add a short paragraph on his life built around one or two specific details. List the family he leaves, starting with his wife, then his children, grandchildren and siblings, and finish with the service details. Write in the third person.
How do you list a stepmother in a father's obituary?
As his wife, the same way any spouse is listed: "He is survived by his wife, Carol." If both sets of children are his, list his children and stepchildren in the same sentence.
Should a father's former wife be in the obituary?
Usually not, unless the family wants her to be. Her children are listed as his children. Some families add "the mother of his children" when the relationship stayed close.
Do we need to report Dad's death to Social Security?
Usually not yourselves: Social Security says the funeral home will usually report it. A one-time $255 death payment can go to a qualifying spouse or child, claimed within two years, and it cannot be applied for online.
How do we arrange military honors for Dad?
Ask the funeral director. The VA says funeral home directors or a personal representative should request military funeral honors, ideally 48 to 72 hours before the service. The ceremony includes Taps and the folding and presentation of the flag.
What should not be included in an obituary?
AARP advises leaving out the full date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name, and never including a home address.
