IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Daniel Leo
Small
June 12, 1916 – April 30, 2015
Obituary
Daniel Leo Small was born in Schenectady, New York on June 12, 1916, to Daniel and Katherine Small. He was the seventh of what would be 13 children. He is survived by his only son, Mark Daniel Small and brother James Small as well as many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.
When Daniel was seven, in 1923, the family relocated to the west coast. They traveled from San Francisco to Los Angeles by train, passing through Lompoc in the midst of the Point Hondo disaster as Dan would later recall. Daniel spent time in Hawaii as a Staff Sergeant in the Army, but was most proud of his time with the Civilian Conservation Corps. During his time with the CCC, he spent time at Frasier Mountain, Sespe and other sites, and continued to attend annual reunions across the country until just a few years ago. Dan was also actively involved with his faith, a devout Catholic who gave generously both of time and money throughout his life.
Dan married the love of his life, Mary Margaret Harris on May 11, 1957. They were blessed with their son Mark in 1960. Dan worked as a cartographer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for 30 years and upon retirement worked for the City of Los Angeles for an additional 10 years. One of his early jobs at the DWP was stringing power lines during the building of Hoover Dam.
After 47 happy years of marriage, Dan lost his wife to cancer in 2004. He began visiting his son Mark and daughter-in-law Lorna in Lompoc regularly and was quite charmed by the valley. He elected to move to Lompoc in 2009, and quickly became involved with the La Purisima Catholic Church. Never one for idle hands, many will remember seeing him charging about town in his little white electric car on some errand or another.
Dan will be remembered for his generosity, pragmatic sensibility and wit. A long time tinkerer and amateur historian, he was always quick to smile and gifted with an incredible memory. He passed away just six weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He will be dearly missed by many.
There will be a funeral service at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra, California at 7 pm on Friday July 10, 2015.
When Daniel was seven, in 1923, the family relocated to the west coast. They traveled from San Francisco to Los Angeles by train, passing through Lompoc in the midst of the Point Hondo disaster as Dan would later recall. Daniel spent time in Hawaii as a Staff Sergeant in the Army, but was most proud of his time with the Civilian Conservation Corps. During his time with the CCC, he spent time at Frasier Mountain, Sespe and other sites, and continued to attend annual reunions across the country until just a few years ago. Dan was also actively involved with his faith, a devout Catholic who gave generously both of time and money throughout his life.
Dan married the love of his life, Mary Margaret Harris on May 11, 1957. They were blessed with their son Mark in 1960. Dan worked as a cartographer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for 30 years and upon retirement worked for the City of Los Angeles for an additional 10 years. One of his early jobs at the DWP was stringing power lines during the building of Hoover Dam.
After 47 happy years of marriage, Dan lost his wife to cancer in 2004. He began visiting his son Mark and daughter-in-law Lorna in Lompoc regularly and was quite charmed by the valley. He elected to move to Lompoc in 2009, and quickly became involved with the La Purisima Catholic Church. Never one for idle hands, many will remember seeing him charging about town in his little white electric car on some errand or another.
Dan will be remembered for his generosity, pragmatic sensibility and wit. A long time tinkerer and amateur historian, he was always quick to smile and gifted with an incredible memory. He passed away just six weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He will be dearly missed by many.
There will be a funeral service at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra, California at 7 pm on Friday July 10, 2015.
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