Born in a small town out in West Virginia, Cathaleen knew as a child that she wanted to see the world outside of the wooded West Virginian territory that she grew up in. She came from a big family in a small house on the hillside. There were ten of them, her older brother Oscar, Maybelle (or Mae), Mack, Cathaleen(herself), Lenuel, Lenford, Denver, Winston, Marie and Noxal.
When Cathaleen was 15 years old she left her hometown of Isaban, West Virginia and headed to Chicago. There she met a friend of hers who paid $15.00 for her to come. First she worked at a candy factory, working the production line, similar to the "I Love Lucy" episode that was famously remembered in television history. Then she worked for a family as a nanny, before being called out by her older sister Maybelle to come to California to be with her.
Once in California, Cathaleen got a job working for Douglas Aircraft at the Long Beach Factory making the bombers for WWII. Cathaleen took to her job as a welder/riveter so much that she quickly became the Lead in Building # 12 and was making more money than the men. The minimum wage for 1942 was .42 cents per hour, and my Grandma was making more than twice that at $.95 per hour, (roughly $38 per week).
One of the gals at work told Cathaleen about a party, a Christmas "end of the year" party that was going to take place. She went out and bought a new dress, a black dress that flowed like satin with the breeze. She did her makeup and hair to look as beautiful as she could be and went to see what the party was all about.
It wasn't too long after she was sitting at a table with her friends that she noticed someone staring at her from across the room. It was Daniel, he had seen her around when she would get off of work and walk from her building to the parking lot where her car was parked. Right then and there he told his buddies "I am going to marry that girl". Well word got around to Cathaleen real quick and she thought "I don't even know him from Adam, how can he be so sure?" Eventually Daniel got up enough nerve to ask Cathaleen out on a date, but sadly their first date didn't pan out. Daniel was late getting to where they had agreed to meet, so Cathaleen thought he stood her up. She was convinced he was a jerk and decided that she wouldn't even talk to him anymore. Daniel was so upset because he really didn't mean to be late, and begged her for weeks for another try. Cathaleen gave in, and two months later they had fallen in love and were married. True love, at its finest!
They went on to have three children: Jimmy, Linda Kathleen and Deborah. They had five grandchildren: Janelle, Tamara, Louis, Daniel and J'aime. And they had four great-grandchildren: Daniel, Carlos, Adelina and Gianna. They were married for 65 years before Daniel passed away 12/12/2008, with Cathaleen right by his side until he took his very last breath.
Cathaleen died on 11/26/2012, surrounded by her loving family. She died peacefully in her sleep, just as she had always wanted. She lived a very adventurous and fulfilling life and was happy to have had the most rewarding job she felt was more important than anything else in the world, being a good mother. And she really was! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA- ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
When Cathaleen was 15 years old she left her hometown of Isaban, West Virginia and headed to Chicago. There she met a friend of hers who paid $15.00 for her to come. First she worked at a candy factory, working the production line, similar to the "I Love Lucy" episode that was famously remembered in television history. Then she worked for a family as a nanny, before being called out by her older sister Maybelle to come to California to be with her.
Once in California, Cathaleen got a job working for Douglas Aircraft at the Long Beach Factory making the bombers for WWII. Cathaleen took to her job as a welder/riveter so much that she quickly became the Lead in Building # 12 and was making more money than the men. The minimum wage for 1942 was .42 cents per hour, and my Grandma was making more than twice that at $.95 per hour, (roughly $38 per week).
One of the gals at work told Cathaleen about a party, a Christmas "end of the year" party that was going to take place. She went out and bought a new dress, a black dress that flowed like satin with the breeze. She did her makeup and hair to look as beautiful as she could be and went to see what the party was all about.
It wasn't too long after she was sitting at a table with her friends that she noticed someone staring at her from across the room. It was Daniel, he had seen her around when she would get off of work and walk from her building to the parking lot where her car was parked. Right then and there he told his buddies "I am going to marry that girl". Well word got around to Cathaleen real quick and she thought "I don't even know him from Adam, how can he be so sure?" Eventually Daniel got up enough nerve to ask Cathaleen out on a date, but sadly their first date didn't pan out. Daniel was late getting to where they had agreed to meet, so Cathaleen thought he stood her up. She was convinced he was a jerk and decided that she wouldn't even talk to him anymore. Daniel was so upset because he really didn't mean to be late, and begged her for weeks for another try. Cathaleen gave in, and two months later they had fallen in love and were married. True love, at its finest!
They went on to have three children: Jimmy, Linda Kathleen and Deborah. They had five grandchildren: Janelle, Tamara, Louis, Daniel and J'aime. And they had four great-grandchildren: Daniel, Carlos, Adelina and Gianna. They were married for 65 years before Daniel passed away 12/12/2008, with Cathaleen right by his side until he took his very last breath.
Cathaleen died on 11/26/2012, surrounded by her loving family. She died peacefully in her sleep, just as she had always wanted. She lived a very adventurous and fulfilling life and was happy to have had the most rewarding job she felt was more important than anything else in the world, being a good mother. And she really was! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA- ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
Born in a small town out in West Virginia, Cathaleen knew as a child that she wanted to see the world outside of the wooded West Virginian territory that she grew up in. She came from a big family in a small house on the hillside. There were ten of them, her older brother Oscar, Maybelle (or Mae), Mack, Cathaleen(herself), Lenuel, Lenford, Denver, Winston, Marie and Noxal.
When Cathaleen was 15 years old she left her hometown of Isaban, West Virginia and headed to Chicago. There she met a friend of hers who paid $15.00 for her to come. First she worked at a candy factory, working the production line, similar to the "I Love Lucy" episode that was famously remembered in television history. Then she worked for a family as a nanny, before being called out by her older sister Maybelle to come to California to be with her.
Once in California, Cathaleen got a job working for Douglas Aircraft at the Long Beach Factory making the bombers for WWII. Cathaleen took to her job as a welder/riveter so much that she quickly became the Lead in Building # 12 and was making more money than the men. The minimum wage for 1942 was .42 cents per hour, and my Grandma was making more than twice that at $.95 per hour, (roughly $38 per week).
One of the gals at work told Cathaleen about a party, a Christmas "end of the year" party that was going to take place. She went out and bought a new dress, a black dress that flowed like satin with the breeze. She did her makeup and hair to look as beautiful as she could be and went to see what the party was all about.
It wasn't too long after she was sitting at a table with her friends that she noticed someone staring at her from across the room. It was Daniel, he had seen her around when she would get off of work and walk from her building to the parking lot where her car was parked. Right then and there he told his buddies "I am going to marry that girl". Well word got around to Cathaleen real quick and she thought "I don't even know him from Adam, how can he be so sure?" Eventually Daniel got up enough nerve to ask Cathaleen out on a date, but sadly their first date didn't pan out. Daniel was late getting to where they had agreed to meet, so Cathaleen thought he stood her up. She was convinced he was a jerk and decided that she wouldn't even talk to him anymore. Daniel was so upset because he really didn't mean to be late, and begged her for weeks for another try. Cathaleen gave in, and two months later they had fallen in love and were married. True love, at its finest!
They went on to have three children: Jimmy, Linda Kathleen and Deborah. They had five grandchildren: Janelle, Tamara, Louis, Daniel and J'aime. And they had four great-grandchildren: Daniel, Carlos, Adelina and Gianna. They were married for 65 years before Daniel passed away 12/12/2008, with Cathaleen right by his side until he took his very last breath.
Cathaleen died on 11/26/2012, surrounded by her loving family. She died peacefully in her sleep, just as she had always wanted. She lived a very adventurous and fulfilling life and was happy to have had the most rewarding job she felt was more important than anything else in the world, being a good mother. And she really was! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA- ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
When Cathaleen was 15 years old she left her hometown of Isaban, West Virginia and headed to Chicago. There she met a friend of hers who paid $15.00 for her to come. First she worked at a candy factory, working the production line, similar to the "I Love Lucy" episode that was famously remembered in television history. Then she worked for a family as a nanny, before being called out by her older sister Maybelle to come to California to be with her.
Once in California, Cathaleen got a job working for Douglas Aircraft at the Long Beach Factory making the bombers for WWII. Cathaleen took to her job as a welder/riveter so much that she quickly became the Lead in Building # 12 and was making more money than the men. The minimum wage for 1942 was .42 cents per hour, and my Grandma was making more than twice that at $.95 per hour, (roughly $38 per week).
One of the gals at work told Cathaleen about a party, a Christmas "end of the year" party that was going to take place. She went out and bought a new dress, a black dress that flowed like satin with the breeze. She did her makeup and hair to look as beautiful as she could be and went to see what the party was all about.
It wasn't too long after she was sitting at a table with her friends that she noticed someone staring at her from across the room. It was Daniel, he had seen her around when she would get off of work and walk from her building to the parking lot where her car was parked. Right then and there he told his buddies "I am going to marry that girl". Well word got around to Cathaleen real quick and she thought "I don't even know him from Adam, how can he be so sure?" Eventually Daniel got up enough nerve to ask Cathaleen out on a date, but sadly their first date didn't pan out. Daniel was late getting to where they had agreed to meet, so Cathaleen thought he stood her up. She was convinced he was a jerk and decided that she wouldn't even talk to him anymore. Daniel was so upset because he really didn't mean to be late, and begged her for weeks for another try. Cathaleen gave in, and two months later they had fallen in love and were married. True love, at its finest!
They went on to have three children: Jimmy, Linda Kathleen and Deborah. They had five grandchildren: Janelle, Tamara, Louis, Daniel and J'aime. And they had four great-grandchildren: Daniel, Carlos, Adelina and Gianna. They were married for 65 years before Daniel passed away 12/12/2008, with Cathaleen right by his side until he took his very last breath.
Cathaleen died on 11/26/2012, surrounded by her loving family. She died peacefully in her sleep, just as she had always wanted. She lived a very adventurous and fulfilling life and was happy to have had the most rewarding job she felt was more important than anything else in the world, being a good mother. And she really was! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA- ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
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