March 4, 1924 to December 26, 2018
Donald A. Wellman, aka “Da Pardner,” passed away December 26 after a 94-year run that included multiple trips to China, a trip through the Panama Canal, a trip to the Galapagos Islands, a tour of Nova Scotia, a family trip to Puerto Rico with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and many ocean cruises to places such as Mexico, Hawaii, Spain, and the Caribbean.
Mr. Wellman also traveled extensively by car having visited all 50 states on cross-country treks with his wife Opal Wellman, who preceded him in death in 2006. He and Opal, along with their friends Sonja and Roy Purcell enjoyed many outings exploring old mining camps and ghost-towns in the wilds of Nevada and California.
You would be hard pressed to find a song that embodied his life better than “I’ve been everywhere” by Johnny Cash which, interestingly, includes references to “Winnemucca” in the lyrics, which is near Grass Valley, Nevada where Donald and Opal built their retirement home and lived happily together for many decades.
He was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on March 4, 1924 where he would stay until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942.
Having served honorably in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Wellman settled in Los Angeles, California after World War II which is where he met Opal Chambers.
The two married and were together for 58 years until Opal’s passing. Donald was preceded in death by his brother’s Edward and Harold sister Doris Dahle and grandson Morgan Wellman.
Donald is survived by his Sister Lucy Campbell of Warwick, Rhode Island, his son Lonnie Wellman of Fields Landing, California, and his daughter Merleen Wambolt (Gene) of Sparks, Nevada. He is also survived by his grandchildren Carson, Kendall, Michael (Gayle), Tara (Brad), Mariah (Sonny) and Bryant, and his great-grandchildren Dakota (Rochelle) Syerra (Nathan), Evan, Colby, Kylie, Mariah-Rose, Gracie, Maia, Megan, and Mitchell and great-great grandson Wyatt.
Mr. Wellman will be cremated and a ceremony will be scheduled in the Spring of 2019 to spread his ashes in the desert near his wife Opal, his sister-in-law Joyce, and Uncle Floyd. If anyone died with few regrets, it was Da Pardner.
He lived a full-rich life and left nothing on the table… truly an inspiration to family and friends who will miss, but never forget, Donald A. Wellman!
