Daniel Welding
Dan was born in California and was orphaned at the young age of five. He was sent to an orphanage in Brooklyn, New York.
Dan Welding in front of his home on Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA.
When Dan arrived around 1910, he did not have the last name of his family. When he turned 18 and was ready to leave the Brooklyn orphanage, he took the name of the “Welding” shop that was next door.
Dan returned to California to get married to his first wife, Evelyn Tavarez in 1935. In 1938 they had a son Byron Ellsworth Welding (1938-1995).
Dan divorced Evelyn Tavarez soon after Byron was born. (or the other way around)!
In the late 1940’s, Dan took a job as a night clerk at the Roosevelt Hotel in Oakland, CA. (Read more about the Roosevelt Hotel from Oakland Wiki website)
Dan was warned that there were some robberies in the area and that he should be careful. Taking precautions, Dan purchased a handgun and practiced. That paid off; On the early morning of November 5th, 1949, a man that had been in the hotel lobby a day before asked Dan for change for a quarter, just then the man pulled out a gun and said: Sit down, this is it!
As Daniel was obeying the gunman’s command, Dan grabbed his own handgun that was hiding between newspapers and shot the would-be robber dead!
Dan later met and married Eileen L. Guthrie from San Francisco. They rented a home at 231 Liberty St in Petaluma.
Eileen was a nurse, Dan worked at the Hotel Petaluma.
Dan was a amature boxer, sportsman, and artist. Newspaper articles shows him at the Sonoma-Marin fair winning awards along with Lew Barber for their art work.
Anytime there was boxing event happening, the Argus-Courier would always ask Dan:, “Who will win”? “Rocky Marciano”! Dan answers.
Petaluma Argus Courier Mon Sep 20 1954
Dan Welding behind his home on Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA.
On May 27, 1963 Dan was driving on the Redwood Highway attempting to make a left turn onto Ely when he was hit by another car. Dan suffred head injuries from the accident and continued to suffer from headaces, memory loss froma tumor in his brain. Sadly dan could not take it anymore and killed himself in the living room of the home he shared with his wife Eillen.
Being a nurse, Eileen was able to deal with what just happened.
Dan is buried in the paupers grave at Cypress Hill.