Theodore R Daniels Jr's Obituary
Theodore Roosvelt Daniels Jr. (Ted) passed away at the age of 92 on January 22, 2022.
Born October 25, 1930 in Wellston, Michigan to Theodore Sr. and Buelah. He was the first of their seven children. When asked, he would tell you that Baldwin, Michigan was where he was from.
At the age of 18, he joined the Air Force. While stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines he met his wife Rosa in 1958. Ted went onto a 20 year Air Force career, followed by a 23 year career with Boeing. Into retirement and through to his last day, he lived as he wanted: he watched TV, he drove himself to the Base, he made runs to the bank and to the commissary. His independent spirit and his sharp mind were on display every day.
We celebrate Ted’s life by recognizing the impact he had, through his service to both country and family. Some of the best stories he would tell were of the times he spent in the Air Force. Amongst many, one story he told is of his pride in being part of the first racially integrated basic training when he joined in 1949.
Family meant the world to Ted. The support he and Rosa gave to countless family members, all over the world, is incalculable. There are generations of people who will live better lives because of the efforts of Ted Daniels. To his family “Back East”, as he would say, he made it a point to make phone calls for birthdays, and once he retired, came out to visit by driving his truck and camper. Whenever asked about his family, he would also tell the story about how he traces his ancestry back to the first black sheriff in Oklahoma territory.
Ted is preceded in death by his sisters Mary and Charlotte, brothers Kenneth and Harlan, and daughter Lorna. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rosa; his sisters Louise and Doris, grandsons Victor Jr. (Kari), and Vance (Laura) and their father Victor, God-daughter Pamela (Mark), and great-grandchildren Layla, Quinton, Marques, Natalie, Mason, CJ, and Isabella.
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