Roy V. Daniels

Roy Vaden Daniels was born on the family farm, one mile east and two miles south of Reamsville, Kansas, on 2 January 1921. He was the first of two sons born to Francis L. and Edna Chandler Daniels. After the death of his mother in 1929 he lived for a time with his aunt and uncle, John and Lizzie Daniels. He received his grade school education at Pleasant Valley, “Monkey Run,” a country school ¼ mile east of his home. He attended Smith Center High School, graduating in 1938. After one semester at Kansas State University, he went to the NYA School in Wichita, Kansas, to learn acetylene welding. After he finished his training, he worked for Davis-Westholt, Inc., also in Wichita for several years.

On 24 July 1942 he was inducted into the Army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His skill in welding was something the Army needed so badly he was inducted despite his bad eyesight. His induction was accompanied with the stipulation that he never be in combat. As long as he had his glasses, he could see well enough to achieve the level of Sharpshooter Carbine.

Roy was stationed in India, fourteen miles from the Himalayas. His job was to keep planes in the air, carrying cargo into Burma and China on the other side of the mountains. His infrequent excursions on the C-47’s were limited to rolling barrels of gasoline out of the planes as they taxied down landing strips in the jungle. Crews had to move quickly because planes took off again as soon as they reached the end of the landing strips.

Roy said that part of succeeding in the Army was looking busy even when there was nothing to do. He spent down time using his skills on other than official projects. He received a photo from his brother John, serving in Europe. He had no picture frame, so he built one from salvaged metal and Plexiglas. Someone threw away a lighter. He cannibalized the wick holder and flint, “borrowed” metal from the supply at hand, and built a new lighter. He got a native artist to engrave a picture of a mountain on the front.

One incident combining his skills and the native population became one of his favorite stories. The wife of the local Gurkha chief came to ask him to repair the big spoon she used to stir and serve food for her family. It had broken between the bowl and the handle. Roy not only put it back together, he reinforced it and put it back so that the bowl was at a right angle to the handle, making it a ladle. The woman was astounded and very grateful. She had never seen a ladle before.

Roy was mustered out at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, on 21 December, 1945, after 3 yrs., 4 mos., and 13 days. In addition to the Good Conduct medal, he was awarded two bronze service stars, the American Theater ribbon, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.

He returned to the farm for a year, and then moved to Oregon where a high school classmate told him there were many opportunities. Roy began to work in the lumber industry as a millworker. His skill in welding found good use there. Eventually he was made millwright, responsible for the metal parts of the machinery. He was so well liked and respected in his profession that his union voted to allow this promotion even though other workers eligible for the position had seniority.

He developed an interest in photography. On his trips around the country, especially along the coast and in the California desert where his brother lived, he took beautiful pictures. His favorite topics were the sea and the desert.

At age sixty-five he retired, stocked a van with tools, and made a mobile shop. He could go down to the fishing boats where he had friends and do welding jobs for them. He also spent time on their boats, taking pictures.

In 2004 he decided to return to Kansas, living with his sister Sherrill Daniels until he moved to Heritage Harbor in Smith Center, where he lived until the week before he died on 27 Mar. 2010.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, brother John, niece Dayna Latham, and aunts and uncles. He is survived by his sisters, Sherrill Daniels of Ulysses, Kansas, and Mankato, Kansas; Gail Potter and husband, Larry of Salina, Kansas; his brother Steve of rural Smith County, Kansas; two nephews, Craig Daniels of Los Angeles, California, and Evan Potter of Salina, Kansas; one great-nephew, Dalton Potter, of Salina, Kansas; and three cousins, Marian (Mrs. Dean) Montee of Shawnee, Kansas, George Daniels of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Joe Daniels of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Roy will be buried in the Pleasant View (Myers) Cemetery, Athol, Kansas, on Wed., 31 Mar. 2010 at 2:30 p.m., with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Casket bearers were: Richard Colson, Warne Colson, Roger Nelson, Larry Potter, Evan Potter, and Allen Daniels. The family suggests memorials to: American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association in care of the Mortuary.

Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.

Note: The picture is of Roy age 9 and John age 5. It was one of their father's favorite photographs.