Leo Dan Welsh, 94, was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 4, 1912 to Dan Julian and M'Dell Shipley Welsh. He came to Winslow in March of 1913 and lived here most of his life, much of which was with his grandparents, Major Leo Matthew and Della Shipley and with his aunts, Constance and Leorena. Leorena is better known by her stage name Norma Deane. Leo Dan is better known by his initials, L.D., having been called by them since childhood.

L.D. attended Winslow Public Schools, graduating with the High School class of 1932. In High School, he was very active in sports, especially in track and basketball. Because of his outstanding abilities, he was sent as a single participant in the Greenway Track Meet and another special track meet in Tucson. As a member of the Winslow basketball team, he participated in the State Championship game in 1931. He attended the United States Calvary Military Training Centers at Fort Hauchuca and Fort Bliss in Arizona in the summers of 1928 thru 1931. He was asked by the Army officials to go into officers training but at the time he was interested in becoming a veterinarian as he loved animals so much and so he was not interested in a military career. L.D. attended college at Texas A & M and Texas Tech before hiring out as brakeman for the Santa Fe Railroad in 1939. He was promoted to conductor in 1943 and worked in this capacity until his retirement in July 1976 with 38 years of continuous service. When World War II broke out he tried to enlist in the Army but the railroad officials refused to release him from train service as they said his job was too important here because they were moving troops and supplies by rail. L.D. was always pleased that he had military training at Fort Bliss and Fort Hauchuca.

In Winslow, he met Verna Northcott and they were married in her parental home in Newton, KS on January 15, 1941 returning to Winslow to make their home. To this union were born three children, Jeanette, Leorena, and George. They celebrated fifty years of marriage in January of 1991 with a delightful party of remembrance hosted by their children.

L.D. and his wife could be called World Travelers having gone north to Canada and Alaska, South thru the Caribbean Sea with seven ports of call including Caraccas, South America. A trip to the South Pacific including Tahiti, New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, and Figi. Another trip took them to Hawaii where they visited four islands and they also traveled extensively on the Mainland of the United States.

L.D. was a member of the First Christian Church where he served in many capacities including elder, deacon, chairman of the board and handyman. He was a Territorial Charter member of the Navajo County Historical Society, being prominent in helping the Winslow Old Trails Museum come into being, a member of the Order of Railroad Conductors, the United Transportation Union and a member of the Benevolent Order of Elks #536 and the American Association of Retired Persons. When George was young, L.D. worked with Little League and Cub Scouts.

L.D. was a sportsman who liked football, basketball and bowling. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing. He was an avid gardener and raised beautiful flowers. He loved music and had a large library of records and tapes which he enjoyed daily.

L.D. is survived by his wife of 66 years; daughters, Jeanette (Dick) Volk of Clarkdale, AZ, Leorena (Ray) Gore of Mesa, AZ; son, George (Carol) Welsh of Long Beach, CA; granddaughters, Cynthia (Ian) Stewart, of Glendale, AZ. Stephanie (Kurtis) Doucette, Marka Neumann of Mesa, AZ, and Julie (Kevin) St Cyr of Greenfield, ID; grandsons, Clifford (Eliza) Bealer of San Diego, CA, Chris (Vivian) Welsh of Temecula, CA, Kevin Welsh of Long Beach; and 10 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, two step grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, and four step great-great grandchildren.

Public Visitation will be on Friday, July 20, from 6 PM to 8 PM at Norvel Owens Mortuary of Winslow. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 10 AM at Norvel Owens Mortuary Chapel, 1505 W. 3rd Street, Winslow, AZ.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in his name to either First Christian Church, 414 N. Winslow, Winslow, Arizona, 86047 or Northland Hospice, P.O. Box 997, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002