Dan had been cutting hair in Atascadero for the last 63 years

ATASCADERO — The community was saddened to hear of the passing of its beloved Dan “The Barber” Phillips at the end of January. Dan and his wife Ramona moved to Atascadero 63 years ago, and a few months later, Phillips became one of Atascadero’s most well-loved barbers, which is where his moniker “Dan the Barber” so lovingly came from.

“We’ve been very happy here. We’ve been very happy. The people are wonderful and have been very kind to us. Dan has enjoyed every minute of being out in the barbershop talking with all of the wonderful people,” Ramona told Atascadero News.

The barbershop, which Dan spent a large majority of his time in, is connected to the Phillips’ family home, so as Dan headed into his 90s and continued to cut hair, his commute was short.

“It was wonderful. He didn’t have to drive. He just walked down the little few steps into the barbershop and put the open sign on. It just was very, very wonderful,” added Ramona.

Dan and Ramona were married in 1952 and spent over seven decades together in a beautiful relationship where they later raised two children, Denise (who sadly passed last year) and Daniel. 

“It’s been wonderful. We just enjoyed being together for 72 years,” Ramona said of her marriage to Dan.

Keeping it old school, Dan would only charge $10 for a haircut at his shop, even though some of his clients tried to persuade him to raise his prices. Ramona said that no matter what, Dan always decided to keep his haircut price at $10 and would be found telling his wife, “Ramona, I know times are hard.” And he said, “Ramona, we’re not rich, and maybe I should raise the price, but I just can’t.” However, many of his clients would always give him more than $10 for his services.

“Some of the people just came on a Saturday, and they would just all visit, and not everybody got a haircut. They just talked about whatever they wanted to talk about. Stories of all kinds. He told lots of stories,” added Ramona. “It was just a real wonderful place for people to come and meet and enjoy each other. Dan enjoyed his work. He loved to cut people’s hair, and he enjoyed the people. Dan was a people person. He really liked people.”

Ramona went on to say that she’s been receiving lots of cards and flowers from the community and that some are being left in front of the barbershop. People have also been reaching out to her via the telephone. In fact, one of the notes came from First District Supervisor John Peschong. In the note, he said.

“I was so sorry to hear of Dan Phillips’ passing. He was a true pillar of Atascadero, and his barber shop was more than a business. It was a place where friendships were made and stories were shared. His presence and dedication to the community will not be forgotten. Keeping you in my prayers and wishing you comfort in the days ahead.”

Ramona said that she thought his note and all the others have been wonderful.

After hearing of his passing, Atascadero News took to social media to ask the community what they remembered most about our beloved “Dan the Barber.”

“I worked next door to him for 6 years. We had a connecting door from the barbershop to the office I was in, and I could hear his going on all day. Loved listening to all the banter & stories he shared with his and our mutual clients. Dan had a very infectious laugh,” said business neighbor Anita Ball. “Many of the world’s problems were solved in his shop. I became close to Dan and Ramona and will miss him dearly.”

Lorraine Hurst shared her love of Dan and his countless stories and also mentioned that Dan had cut her husband’s hair for over 40 years before his passing. Meanwhile, John Rickwald commented on how Dan would often accept an 18-pack of eggs for a haircut.

“Dan was a great man. I would stop by there [the barbershop] often just to talk along with others. Dan had a joke aboutif you could not pay for a haircut, you could leave one shoe. He said people walked out of the barbershop with one shoe. Now, every time I see one shoe, I think of him,” Rickwald also said.

Dan’s celebration of life will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2600 Ramona Road, which is where Dan attended church with Ramona.

“The military will be there because he served in Korea,” Ramona added. “If the weather permits, they’re going to do a flyover.”

“He just did want me to tell everybody thank you. How much he appreciated them coming into the barbershop. He said, ‘I especially want you to thank everybody,'” she concluded.

To learn more about Dan and Ramona and their life in Atascadero, follow the link below to the Oct. 2022 issue of Atascadero News Magazine to read our article from when the couple were chosen as King and Queen of Colony Days: issuu.com/colonymagazine/docs/atascadero_news_magazine_october_2022

Featured Image: In 2022, Ramona (left) and Dan Phillips were chosen as King and Queen of Colony Days. The two were married for 72 years before Dan’s death last month. Photo by Hayley Mattson/ATN