Other Events:

• Alternate Spelling of Last Name: Mullarkey, Malarky, Mallarkey, etc
• Associations: Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; member of the "Richmond Club."
• Find A Grave Memorial Number: 21804174
• Race: White
• Baptism: 2 Apr 1882, Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA; St Joseph's Catholic Church by Rev Daniel O'Connor; Sponsors Michael and Bridget Kilker
• Occupation: 1900, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA; dressmaker
• Residence: 1900, Philadelphia Ward 15, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Occupation: Aug 1904, Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA; housekeeper
• Residence: Aug 1904, Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Residence: 1905, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama USA
• Residence: 1907, Shreveport, Caddo County, Louisiana, USA
• Residence: Between Jun 1907 and Sep 1908, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
• Residence: Between 1909 and 1913, Everett, Snohomish County, Washington, USA
• Residence: 1910, Everett Ward 2, Snohomish County, Washington, USA; 3402 Colby Ave
• Residence: Between 1914 and 1916, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA
• Residence: 1920, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 413 10th St
• Associations: 1925, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; elected 2nd Vice President of newly formed Northern California Federation of Republican Women
• Residence: 1925, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 429 11th St
• Residence: 1929, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA
• Residence: 1930, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 429 11th St
• Residence: 1934, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 429 11th St
• Residence: 1935, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St
• Residence: 1 Apr 1940, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St; Age: 58; Marital Status: Divorced; Relation to Head of House: Head
• Residence: 1942, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St
• Residence: Dec 1946, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St
• Residence: 1953, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St/
• Residence: 1957, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 439 11th St

Notes:

Anna Veronica Mullarkey was born in Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John and Mary Mullarkey (nee Joyce). There are quite a few ways of spelling the name Mullarkey: Mullarkey, Malarky, Malarkey, Mallarkey, etc.) Anna was baptized on April 2, 1882 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Girardville. On the baptismal records her last name is spelled Mullarkey. Anna's Godparents were Michael Kilker and Bridgett Kilker.

Anna's parents were both born in Ireland. Anna was one of 8 daughters and two sons born to John and Mary.

The 1900 Census showed Anna living in Philadelphia at 634 S. 16th St. Her sisters Marguerite and Lauretta, and a brother, Joseph also lived there. (We think Joseph might be the son on one of the sisters, but we have no proof as of 2008.) Anna and her sisters were all listed as dressmakers. They had 5 lodgers and one servant, Gracie Plumb, a black woman.

In Anna's trunk, her granddaughter found a large mother of pearl button. Scraped on the back of it is this: "Boston '96 Love my love shall ever be thine." Did Anna scratch this on a button, intending to give it to a beau? Or did one of her admirers give it to her? I guess we'll never know.

Anna married Gustave Franklin Obenland on August 30, 1904 in Girardville, Pennsylvania. They had one child, a son they named Harold Edwin, born on July 3, 1905 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Anna and Gus moved around quite a bit during their marriage. Records show them living in Birmingham, Alabama, Shreveport, Lousiana, Ft. Worth, Texas, Everett, Washington, Goldfield, Nevada and in California.

The date of Anna's divorce from Gustave is unknown as of 2007. We do know that after the divorce, Anna lived in Richmond, Ccalifrnia and took in boarders.

Sometime before 1947, Anna moved to Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California. I would assume the move was prompted by her desire to be closer to her son, Harold. The 1947 birth announcement for Michael, Anna's first grandchild, shows she was living in Inglewood, in care of her sister, Lauretta. When Lauretta died in 1949, Anna stayed on in Inglewood.

I can remember going to her house in the 1950's and eating Campbell's Chicken Gumbo soup. I also remember her phone was an old crank one. She had quite a collection of beer steins on her dining room buffet. I can still see in my mind the old crank-up phonograph with the large horn in her bedroom.

As an interesting side note, in the terms of Anna's divorce from Gus, she was awarded monthly alimony. When Gus died, he owed Anna $7,750. Anna was never able to collect anything from Gus's estate, because a relative of Gus's, Gus's new wife (?) (No record has been found of a marriage.) and her friend smuggled Gus's money and other valuable items out of the state of Washington and into California and Idaho. In return, the relative and his wife were given Gus's house in Pomeroy, Washington. A person with intimate knowledge of it all signed a sworn affidavit to that effect.

Anna was either living in Long Beach or Inglewood, California at the time of her death. She is buried in the same grave as her son and surrounded by her sisters Lauretta, Rose, Theresa, Marion and Marion's husband, Hector Gillis.

Anna left behind one son, Harold. She also had three grandchildren, Michael Edwin, Cecilia Ann and Laurie Lynn.


Buried:
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery; Section D, Lot 217, Grave 7

Anna married Gustave Franklin Obenland 30 Aug 1904, Girardville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA; divorced Between 1925 and 1929, California, USA. Gustave (son of Ernst Gottlieb Obenland and Maria Agnes Burkhart) was born 26 Sep 1877, Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, California, USA; died 14 Mar 1944, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA; was buried Mar 1944, Pomeroy, Garfield County, Washington, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Find A Grave Memorial Number: 21791114
• Race: White
• Occupation: Los Angeles County, California, USA; worked in the purchasing department at North American Aviation, Inc; Autonetics Division, an aviation and aerospace company (See Notes)
• Residence: Between Sep and Nov 1952, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 34 Naomi Ave
• Residence: Between Nov and Dec 1952, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA; N 5th Street
• Social Security Number: 560-18-0139
• Residence: Between 1907 and 1909, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
• Residence: May 1907, Shreveport, Caddo County, Louisiana, USA
• Residence: Between 1909 and 1913, Everett, Snohomish County, Washington, USA
• Residence: 1910, Everett Ward 2, Snohomish County, Washington, USA; 3402 Colby Ave
• Education: Between 1911 and 1912, Everett, Snohomish County, Washington, USA; attended a parochial elementary school
• Education: Between 1914 and 1915, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Pasadena Elementary School
• Residence: Jul 1914, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA
• Education: 1915, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA; Goldfield Elementary School
• Residence: Nov 1915, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA
• Residence: 1916, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA
• Associations: Between 1919 and 1921; Boy Scouts of America
• Education: Between 1920 and 1922, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; Richmond Elementary
• Residence: 1920, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 413 10th St
• Education: Between 1922 and 1924, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; night classes at Richmond Union HIgh School
• Education: Between 1924 and 1926, Berkeley, Alameda County, California, USA; Berkeley High School
• Associations: Between 1924 and 1926, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; Junior Elks
• Associations: Between 1924 and 1926, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; Order of De Molays
• Associations: Between 1926 and 1934, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, #1251
• Occupation: Between 1926 and 1930, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; worked for his father at G.F Obenland, Jeweler; 921 MacDonald Ave.at the corner of Harbour Way; the building is gonr; it's now a little park
• Graduation: Jun 1926, Berkeley, Alameda County, California, USA; Berkeley High School
• Residence: 1929, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA
• Occupation: Between 1930 and 1941, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; supervisor at the Savoy car park at 537 Grand Ave. (Today we call it a parking lot)
• Occupation: 1930, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; timekeeper in a porcelain factory
• Residence: 1930, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, USA; 429 11th St
• Residence: Between 1935 and 1938, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 910 Grand Ave at The Imperial Hotel
• Residence: Mar 1935, California, USA; marriage certificate in 1935 states he was living in Richmond, CA but that can't be true, as he also lists his occupation as being in the parking business which he did in Los Angeles.
• Residence: Between 1938 and 1940, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Toberman St.
• Residence: 1940, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 108234 31st Street
• Residence: 1 Apr 1940, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Age: 34; Marital Status: Divorced; Relation to Head of House: Lodger
• Residence: Between Oct 1940 and Nov 1946, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1123 Sunset Blvd
• Occupation: Between 1941 and 1944, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA; leadman for Douglas Aircraft Company
• Occupation: Between 1944 and 1951, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; he and Geraldine had a jewelry store at 1217 S Baldwin Ave in the business district in downtown Arcadia
• Residence: 1944, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1123 Sunset Blvd.
• Associations: Between 1946 and 1947, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; West Arcadia Businessmen's Association, Inc..
• Residence: Between Nov 1946 and Feb 1947, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 11324 Inglewood Ave; with his mother
• Residence: Between Mar 1947 and Apr 1948, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1519 S Baldwin Ave
• Associations: Between 1948 and 1949, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; Lions Club
• Residence: Between Apr 1948 and Sep 1951, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1419 Lovell Ave
• Residence: Between Sep 1951 and Aug 1952, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 11324 Inglewood Ave, with his mother
• Residence: 1952, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 311 W Foothill Blvd at the Aztec Hotel
• Residence: Oct 1954, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 11324 Inglewood Ave, with his mother
• Residence: Between Oct 1954 and 1957, Lakewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 6129 Seaborn St, with third wife, Dorothy
• Physical Description: Jun 1957; 5'8", 155 lbs, with blue eyes and auburn hair
• Occupation: 1962, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA; inspector at North American Aviation Company
• Residence: 1962, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 206 69th Way
• Residence: Between 1963 and 1974, Placentia, Orange County, California, USA; 502 W Center St.
• Residence: Between 1965 and 1974, Placentia, Orange County, California, USA
• Residence: Between 1974 and Jan 1982, Lake Isabella, Kern County, California, USA; 221 Piute Mountain Rd
• Last Residence: Jan 1982, Weldon, Kern County, California, USA; 221 Piute Mountain Rd
• _FUN: 11 Jan 1982, Wofford Heights, Kern County, California, USA; St Jude's Catholic Church; Monsignor Denis J Doherty officiating
• Burial: Abt 1991, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Holy Cross Cemetery; Section D, Lot 217, Grave 7. He was moved so his last's wife's new husband could be buried there with her.

Notes:

Harold Obenland was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 3, 1905. His parents were Gustave Franklin Obenland and Anna Veronica Malarkey. (Also spelled at times Malarky, Mullarkey, etc.) Anna's sister, Lauretta Malarkey (Laura) was Harold's Godmother.

Harold had a child out-of-wedlock, Donald Lee Obenland, who was born July 15, 1925 in Oakland, California. The mother's name was Mary Jane Flaugher, as per the birth certificate. For 30 years, Harold's daughter, Cecilia, has searched for Donald. Please see his memorial for Donald's story.

Harold married Mildred Lovena Whaley Smalley on March 24, 1935. They later divorced.

On June 30, 1940, he married Geraldine Cecilia Huston, from Los Angeles. They were married in Yuma, AZ. Two children were born to them: Michael Edwin Obenland (11/19/1947) and Cecilia Ann Obenland (4/23/1949). Harold and Geraldine later divorced, which was final on March 3, 1953. However, they had been living apart for some time prior to that.

On Oct. 23, 1954, Harold married Dorothy Fern Watson in Lakewood, California. They had one child, Laurie Lynn Obenland, born in 1956. Their divorce was final in either 1958 or 1959.

Harold went to work in 1957 for North American Aviation, Inc in their Autonetics Division. On June 14, 1957 he completed a "Department ofDefense Personnel Security Questionaire." (Form DD48) He also signed Form DD48-1, "Certificate of Nonaffiliation with Certain Organizations." Listed on this form were more than a page (in small print!), listing organizations the Attorney General had "designated has having interests in conflict with those of the United States." This questionaire also states, "Security classification of materials or information employee will have access to: SECRET."

The DD 48 says, "Security classification of materials or information employee will have access to: SECRET" and "Contract number under which the employee is to be cleared: NAVAHO AF-33 (600) - 28469." I couldn't find much about this contract on the internet. What I did find was that it pertained to "Guided Missile Project MX-770, worked on by North American Aviation, Missile Development Division in Downey, CA in the mid to late 1950's." However, Wikipedia states, "Officially, the program was canceled on 13 July 1957, after the first four launches ended in failure. In reality the program was obsolete by mid-1957 as the first Atlas ICBM began flight tests in June and the Jupiter and Thor IRBMs were showing great promise. These ballistic missiles however would not have been possible without the liquid fuel rocket engine developments accomplished in the Navaho program. The launch of the Soviet Satellite Sputnik in October 1957 only finished Navaho as the Air Force shifted its research money into ICBMs. But the technologies developed for the Navaho were reused in 1957 for the development of the AGM-28 Hound Dog, a nuclear cruise missile which entered in production in 1959."

However, a book, "US Air Force Tatical Missiles, 1949-1969" by George Mindling and Robert Bolton, states on pages 57-58 that the MX-770 project produced the SM-64 Navajo Missile. I don't know for how long it was in use. I do know that Harold worked for North American Aviation until his retirement, which was probably about 1970.

Harold's last wife was Myrtle Ann Thompson. They were married in 1959. Their marriage announcement was in the Los Angeles Times on Dec. 13, 1959. They were still married and living in Weldon, CA when Harold died.

He was first buried in Kern River Valley Cemetery. Later, Myrtle had him moved to Holy Cross Cemetery where his mother and Aunts are buried. I don't know why Myrtle did that...maybe so she and her last husband could be buried together.

Harold was a jeweler like his father for a time and even owned a store on Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, CA while married to Geraldine. Later, he worked for North American Aviation, in Long Beach, CA. Harold was an avid camper and fisherman and spent many vacations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. And yes, he was a ladies man! His cousin Mary called him a "Vagabond Lover."

NOTE for Oct 11, 2012: I've finally uncovered Marion Flaugher and her son, Donald's stories. I'm not too keen about my Dad right now. I'm disgusted that he was 20 and got a 16 year old girl pregnant. Did he know about the pregnancy? Did Marion tell him? I wish I knew.

NOTE: In August, 1961, Harold filed for divorce from Myrtle, but they later reconciled. (The Independent; Long Beach, CA, page 54, column 3).


Buried:
Kern River Valley Cemetery; Block 173, Lot B6

Died:
Kern Valley Hospital

Harold married Geraldine Cecilia Huston 30 Jun 1940, Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona, USA; divorced Between 1952 and 1953, Clark County, Nevada, USA. Geraldine (daughter of James Lee Huston and Emma Cecilia Bachmann) was born 21 Aug 1915, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; died 17 Oct 1968, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; was buried Oct 1968, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Harold married Mildred Loverna Whaley (daughter of John Whaley and Etrulia Atwood) [Group Sheet]

Harold married Myrtle Anna Thompson 12 Dec 1959, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Myrtle (daughter of Robert Thompson and Myrtle Cora Morrow) was born 22 Apr 1917, Urbana, Dallas County, Missouri, USA; died 5 Jul 1989, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, USA; was buried 11 Jul 1989, Wofford Heights, Kern County, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Harold married Dorothy Fern Watson 23 Oct 1954, Lakewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Dorothy (daughter of Glenn Charles Watson and Estella Fern Jones) was born 24 Nov 1916, Denver, Adams County, Colorado, USA; died 16 Sep 1984, Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Harold married Marion Pigott They were never married. Marion (daughter of Stacy Honor Pigott and Nellie L George) was born 14 Apr 1909, Illinois, USA; died 5 Oct 1981, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA; was buried , San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Cecilia married Robert Duane Backhaus (son of William George Henry Backhaus and Orpha Marion Henjum) [Group Sheet]

Cecilia married Willard Harding Yoder, Jr (son of Willard Harding Yoder, Sr and Charlcie Everhea Smith) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth: Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, now Cedars-Sinai
• Find A Grave Memorial Number: 21792379
• Social Security Number: 556-74-5929
• Residence: Between 1947 and 1948, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1123 Sunset Blvd
• Baptism: 7 Mar 1948, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Holy Angels Catholic Church Rev William Lundy officiating. His Godparents were his great Aunt and Uncle, Marion Malarkey Gillis and Hector Gillis.
• Residence: 1950, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1419 Lovell Ave
• Residence: 1952, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 34 Naomi Ave
• Residence: Between 1953 and 1954, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 214 San Antonio Rd with daughter & kids; I wrote this number when I was researching old Arcadia Directories at the Arcadia Library in 1978. today, 28 Feb 2014, the number does not exist on Google Earth. I believe I wrote the number down wrong in 1978.
• Residence: 1955, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 220 San Luis Rey Rd
• Residence: Between 1956 and 1957, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 754 Arcadia Ave
• Residence: 1958, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 624 W Huntington Dr Apt 5
• Residence: 1959, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 810 Fairview Ave
• Residence: 1960, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 518 1/2 W Longden Ave
• Residence: 1963, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1008 W Huntington Dr, Apt 7; the "Ranch House" apartments
• Residence: 1964, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 1127 W Duarte Rd, Apt B; the "Monaco Aptartments".
• Residence: Between 1967 and 1968, Arcadia, Los Angeles County, Califonria, USA; 148 B La Porte
• Occupation: Dec 1970, Los Angeles County, California, USA; assembler in a stereo cabinet factory
• Residence: Dec 1970, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 301 E Colorado Blvd
• Last Residence: May 2004, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 1745 N Western Ave #4 (a Board and Care Home)
• Residence: May 2004, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 1745 Western Ave, #4

Notes:

Michael's parents were Geraldine Cecilia Obenland (nee Huston) and Harold Edwin Obenland. Michael was born at Cedar's of Lebanon Hospital (now Cedar's Sinai). He was baptized at Holy Angels Catholic Church, in Arcadia, CA on March 7, 1948. His Sponsors were his great aunt, Marion Gillis and her husband, Hector.

Michael's parents divorced in 1953, however, they had been living apart for at least one year prior to that. Michael grew up in Arcadia, Los Angeles County, CA with his mother and sister. The two children were taken care of by their maternal grandmother, Emma Cecilia Price, who lived with them until her death in 1962.

Michael was married twice. First to Sherry Chrisinger on Dec. 12, 1970 in Monrovia, CA. They had two children before divorcing: Tracey Dionne Obenland (1971-2011) and Julie Marie Obenland.

He later married Rosanna Jean Krajcik. Two children were born in this marriage: Marcia Marie Obenland, born in Los Angeles on March 12, 1978. Another child was found on the California Birth Index at Ancestry.com as being born to them on December 21, 1976, in Los Angeles. She is listed there as both Lisa A. Obenland and Lisa A. Krajcik. However, the state of California has said they have no record of this birth. Maybe she was adopted, as Michael and Rosanna had many problems in life. Michael and Rosanna were divorced in Los Angeles County, CA. Date unknown.

On Oct. 19, 1992, Michael was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times regarding panhandlers. He said, "I'm manic-depressive. Both my wife (Rosanna) and I have been in many mental institutions. We have both had electric shock treatments over and over. We weren't born this way on purpose. My wife and I are both on disability. We each get $595 per month. Our rent, $597, takes half of that. Soon the state will cut us back $35 each per month. We could end up homeless again, like we were for a year and a half. Governor Wilson needs to be recalled. He doesn't care about the poor. See this brace I'm wearing for my spine? I need steroid shots, but they're not covered on Medicare. I need tranquilizers for my nerves, but they're not covered by Medicare. I've thought sometimes of suicide. Things are getting worse. About five months ago, I started getting up at 3 AM to go out with a flashlight to get bottles and stuff out of trash cans. It's so shabby everywhere. I'd say one-eighth of the people I ask give me money. The most I ever got? About $5. But mostly it's chump change, just enough so I can take my wife to Denny's for an iced tea or something."

Michael died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital of pneumonia, a complication of COPD. His sister, Cecilia, did not find out about his death until a year or so later. She picked up his ashes from LA County on May 17, 2006, where they now reside on a shelf in her home next to their mother's ashes.


Birth:
Social Security Death Index is incorrect if it says the 17th

Buried:
on this day I brought Michael's ashes to my home. They reside on the shelf next to our mother's ashes.

Died:
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center; pneumonia due to COPD. He also was suppering from hypertension. (high blood pressure)

Michael married Sherry Lyn Chrisinger (daughter of Lloyd Donald Chrisinger and Geraldine Reeves) [Group Sheet]

Michael — Rosanna Jean Krajcik. Rosanna (daughter of George Washington Krajcik and Lietta Maria Bruni) was born 29 Jun 1950, Texas, USA; died 17 Jul 2001, Van Nuys, Los Angeles County, California, USA. [Group Sheet]

Laurie married John Barrett Silvius (son of Unknown Silvius and Unknown Veysey) [Group Sheet]

Laurie married Ray Anthony Simpson (son of Ray Edward Simpson and Brenda Lee Reynolds) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Donald Lee Oberland
• Last Residence: Oct 2008, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 612 W Foothill Blvd. Apt C

Notes:

Donald was the son of Marion Flaugher (Mary Jane on Donald's Birth Certificate) and Harold Edwin Obenland. He was born out-of-wedlock on July 15, 1925 in Oakland, California.

Donald's real last name was Obenland. However, sometime during his life, probably when he was a child, the name was misspelled and inadvertently changed to Oberland. This is the name he used throughout his life. (This happens sometimes with Obenlands.)

I'm Donald's half sister; we had the same father. In 1979 I sent to Sacramento, California for birth records of any children born to my father, Harold, and his first wife, Mildred. This was a shot in the dark, because I didn't really think my father had any more children. As far as I knew, Harold's only children were myself, my brother Michael and half-sister Laurie. Imagine my suprise when I received a birth certificate for a child born to my father and Mary Jane Flaugher, a totally different woman!

This birth certificate was for a son, Donald, who was the illegitimate child of my father, Harold Edwin Obenland. The certificate states that Harold was a resident of Richmond, California and his age was 17. Harold did live in Richmond at that time, but he would have just turned 20 years old a couple of weeks prior to Donald's birth. Maybe they lied about his age for legal reasons...Mary Jane was only 16 years old when Donald was born.

Since that birth certificate arrived in 1979, I had been looking for Donald, to no avail. It was almost like he had dropped off the face of the earth. I even called the Vital Records Department in Sacramento, California and cajoled the lady into at least telling me if he had been adopted in this state. She indicated that he had never been adopted, not even in another state. I then started looking for a Donald Flaugher, but never found him under that name either. At that point, I figured his mother might have gotten married and Donald had used his step-father's name even though not formally adopted.

On February 6, 2009, I was researching another Obenland on the Social Security Death Index and there I found my long-lost brother listed. He had just died 3 1/2 months previously. Interestingly, his last residence is listed as Monrovia, California. What makes that interesting is that Monrovia is the city adjacent to Arcadia, where my brother and I grew up.

Donald died on October 23, 2008 in Arcadia, California.

On June 10, 2009, I received Donald's death certificate. I was hoping that the informant listed on the certificate would be either his wife or an adult child, with whom I could make contact. Unfortunately, just about everything on the certificate was "unknown." In fact, the coronor's office had been investigating, looking for a member of the family. The only new information gleaned from the death certificate besides his last residence is the fact that Donald's middle name was Lee. As you can see from his birth certificate, no middle name was listed.

UPDATE #1: After visiting with Donald's roommates on June 12, 2009, I learned that Donald went to the Arcadia Public Library on a regular basis. He would sit in the library and read cowboy books. He didn't drive, so one of his roommates drove him and picked him up later. On the day Donald died, he was waiting on the bus bench outside the library. When his ride showed up, she found him dead on the bench. He had suffered a heart attack. His death certificate states he suffered from arteriosclerotic cardio vascular disease.

His roommates also told me that Donald's mother took off with a man and left Donald to be raised by his
grandfather. I don't know how long he stayed with his grandfather, because Donald also said that he never knew his family. Maybe he was with his grandfather for a short time and then raised by strangers.

As per his roommates, Donald never married and never had any children.

I was lucky to receive a photo of Donald from his roommates. If I ever questioned his relationship to my father, those questions were dispelled when I saw Donald's photo. He looks just like our father! See for yourself.

Even after receiving the news of his death, I've continued to search for any historical record of Donald's life. Unfortunately, the only mention of Donald is in his birth certificate and his death certificate. I can't find any mention of him in the 1930 federal census, nor in any WWII military records. And his mother is just as elusive!

UPDATE #2: During a sleeples night, I got on my IPad and did some new searches. I found Donald listed as Donald Abenland in the 1940 Census, living with his grandparents, Julius and Nellie Flaugher. Then I found a Marion Hubbard born in 1909 in Illinois, whose maiden name was Flaugher. I found her listed in the 1920 Census in Richmond, California with her parents. Marion's death records state that she died in San Diego County, California in 1981. I have added her to Find A Grave, with "Burial Unknown" and have linked her to Donald.

After finding this out, I REALLY couldn't sleep. I checked NewspaperArchive.com and came across three articles about Marion. One was a story she had written when she was 11. The other two were about her running away and deserting her baby. In one, the baby is even identified with the first name of Donald.

Please read the article on here and on her memorial. I feel so sorry for this young girl! She ran away once and they found her. She ran away a second time. I don't know yet if she was eventually found or not. (More research is needed.) And I'm mad at my father for being a part of such turmoil in her young life.

UPDATE #3: I received an email in August, 2013 regarding Donald's mother. A distant relative gave me the information that her father was not Julius Flaugher, even though that last name was used in all of the newspaper articles and on Donald's birth certificate. Whether Julius Flaugher adopted Marion is unknown at this time.

Marion's real father was Stacy Honor Pigott. He and Nellie, Marion's mother, were married in Kane County, Illinois on June 21, 1899. At first I was skeptical, but then I remembered that one of Donald's roommates told me that Donald talked about a sister with the last name of Pigott, who lived in the bay area of California. I want to thank Cheryl Rene for the information and for the two other newspaper articles on Marion and her abandonment of Donald. Look at that, I now have a picture of Donald as a baby and one of his young mother.

More research is needed. I'm interested in finding out if this sister had any children who might still be around.
If anyone out there knows anything about Donald or his mother or family, please contact me!


Birth:
1218 E 21st St; at a home for "delinquent" girls.

Died:
on a bus bench in front of the library, waiting for his friend to pick him up.

Donald — . Unknown [Group Sheet]

Annalisa — Robert Eugene Grand. [Group Sheet]

Annalisa married Mark David Brown, Sr (son of Edward Forest Brown, Sr and Carolyn Doris Eakle) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Find A Grave Memorial Number: 68185335
• Residence: 1992, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 315 Jasmine Ave

Notes:

Tracey was the daughter of Michael Edwin Obenland and Sheri Krissinger.

From the Bellingham Herald, March 4, 2011:

"Tracey D. Cook, 39, of Maple Falls, passed away Friday, February 25th, 2011. She was born on July 12th, 1971 in California. Tracy (sic) is survived by her husband Corey, and her sons Travis, Dylan, Justin and Danny, her mother Sherry and stepfather Mike, and her dog Daisy. A service will be held on Saturday, March 5th, 1:00 pm at 3802 James Street. Tracey will always be remembered for her love of animals and her kind heart."

Tracey — Daniel McClure, Sr. [Group Sheet]

Tracey — Unknown Cavender. [Group Sheet]

Tracey married Corey D Cook 26 Mar 2005, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Corey was born , Washington, USA. [Group Sheet]

Julie — Peter Merjil. [Group Sheet]

Marcia — Living Perea. [Group Sheet]