| Last Name |
Walling [Donovan] |
| First Name |
Velma |
| Middle Name |
Grace |
| Born |
17 Jan 1911 in Keizer, Oregon |
| Home Addresses (Salem)
|
2199 Ferry
1560 N 17th
2657 Cherry Ave.
4374 Hager
3707 Anita Dr. NE |
| Died |
4 Mar 1989 in Salem, Oregon |
| Place Buried |
City View Cemetery in Salem, Oregon |
| Spouse |
Carl Leroy Donovan |
| Date of Marriage |
20 Aug 1938 in Salem, Oregon (divorced 4 Apr 1980) |
| Children |
Albert and William Donovan |
| Dates of Employment |
1935-1940 |
| Job(s) at TKWM |
Spooler, Head Spooler |
| Life Story
|
Velma Walling worked as a spooler at TKWM from 1935-1940.
Velma Grace Walling was born 17 January 1911, in Keizer, Oregon, to William and Lena (Lindall) Walling. She spent her early years in the Chemawa area, growing up on the family farm located off River Road.
By 1930, Velma and her family had relocated to Salem, where her father found employment with the Oregon Pulp and Paper Company. At age 19, Velma was both a student and waitress at the Rose Cafe, balancing her education with work during the economic hardships of the Great Depression.
In 1936, Velma began working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, where she rose to the position of head spooler – a role she held until around 1940. On 20 August 1938, she married Carl Leroy Donovan, a truck driver. The couple had two sons, William and Albert. By 1940, the family was living in Chemawa, with Velma still employed at the woolen mill and Carl still working at Oregon Pulp and Paper.
During the 1940s while the mill was under federal contract to produce blankets for the U.S. Army, employees were required to submit fingerprint cards and undergo background checks. Velma’s card described her as 5 feet 3 inches tall, of slender build, weighing 148 pounds, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.
By 1950, Velma had stepped back from industrial work to focus on raising her children in the Four Corners area of Salem, while Carl continued his job at the paper mill. The family endured a tragic loss in 1959 when their son Albert was fatally struck by a car while riding his bicycle – a year after he had briefly gained local attention for going missing during a Boy Scout fishing trip.
Velma and Carl divorced in April 1980. In her later years, Velma worked at Rawlinson Laundry and Weider’s Laundry and remained active in the community through Trinity United Methodist Church. She enjoyed sewing and lived nearly her entire life in the Salem area. Velma Grace Walling Donovan passed away on 4 March 1989, at the age of 78. She was buried in City View Cemetery in Salem, Oregon. |
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|
| References |
| Name |
|
| Salem City Directories |
1930 Walling Velma G., student, r 2199 Ferry
1932 Walling Velma G., waitress, Rose Cafe, r 2199 Ferry
1934 Walling Velma G., factory worker, r 2199 Ferry
1935 Walling Velma G., helper, TKWM, h 1560 N 17th
1936 Walling Velma G., helper, TKWM, h 1560 N 17th
1938 Walling Velma G., spooler, TKWM, h 1560 N 17th
1940 Donovan Velma G., spooler, TKWM Co, r RD2 box 131D
1945 Donovan Carl L. (Velma G.), millworker, OP&PCo, h 2657 Cherry Ave.
1947 Donovan Carl L. (Velma G.), paper maker, OP&PCo, h 2657 Cherry Ave.
1951 Donovan Carl L. (Velma G.), millworker, OP&PCo, h 4374 Hager
1953 Donovan Carl L. (Velma G.), paper maker, OP&PCo, h 4374 Hager
1955 Donovan Carl L., millworker, OP&PCo, h 4374 Hager
1957 Donovan Carl L., millworker, OP&PCo, h 4374 Hager
1960 Donovan Carl L. (Velma G.), paper maker, Columbia River Paper, h 3707 Anita Dr. NE |
| Census Records |
1920 Velma Walling. Age: 9. Birth Year: abt 1911 in Oregon. Single, daughter to HOH. Home in 1920: Chemawa, Marion, Oregon. Additional household members: William Walling, age 33 (father); Lena Walling, age 34 (mother); Neva Walling, age 11 (sister), Gladys Walling, age 6 (sister).
1930 Velma Walling. Age: 19. Birth Year: abt 1911 in Oregon. Single, daughter to HOH. Home in 1930: 2199 Ferry St. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Additional household members: William G. Walling, age 44 (father); Lena Walling, age 44 (mother); Neva E. Walling, age 21 (sister); Gladys L. Walling, age 16 (sister); Lee Tindall, age 52 (grandmother); Opal G. Nelson, age 34 (aunt); Donald Moore, age 15 (cousin).
1940 Velma Donovan. Age: 26. Birth Year: abt 1914 in Oregon. Married, wife to HOH. Home in 1940: Chemawa, Marion, Oregon. Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th Year. Occupation: Head Spooler, Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Carl Donovan, age 26 (husband).
1950 Velma Donovan. Age: 39. Birth Date: abt 1911 in Oregon. Married, wife to HOH. Home in 1950: 4374 Hager, Four Corners, Marion, Oregon. Occupation: Keeping House. Additional household members: Carl L. Donovan, age 35 (husband); Albert L. Donovan, age 8 (son); William H. Donovan, age 5 (son). |
| Social Security Death Index |
Velma G. Donovan. Birth Date: 17 Jan 1911. Issue Year: Before 1951. Issue State: Oregon. Last Residence: 97301, Salem, Marion, Oregon. Death Date: 4 Mar 1989. |
| County Marriage Record |
20 Aug 1938. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Husband: Carl Leroy Donovan. Residence: 551 N. 21st Salem, Oregon. Age: Legal. Occupation: Truck Driver. No. of Marriage: 1st. Wife: Velma Grace Walling. Residence: Rt. 2, X 110, Salem, Oregon. Age: Velma. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Spooler – Kay Woolen Mill. No. of Marriage: 1st. |
| Oregon Death Index |
Velma G. Donovan. Age: 78. Birth Date: 17 Jan 1911. Death Date: 4 Mar 1989. Death Place: Marion. Certificate: 89-05278 |
| Find-a-Grave |
Velma Grace Walling Donovan. Birth: 17 Jan 1911 in Salem, Marion, Oregon. Death: 4 Mar 1989 (aged 78) Salem, Marion, Oregon. Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion, Oregon. Plot: Sec. N. Memorial ID: 58606173 |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman 14 Aug 1938, p. 5 – Marriage License
Oregon Statesman 21 Aug 1938, p. 10 – Marriage
Capital Journal 16 Jun 1958, p. 1 – Seach Party Finds Lost Boy, Albert
Oregon Statesman 16 Jun 1958, p. 1 – Salem Scout Rescued, Albert
Oregon Statesman 6 Aug 1958, p. 5 – Obituary, Albert
Statesman Journal 7 Mar 1989, p. 10 – Obituary, Velma |
| WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
M3 1992-008-0003 TKWM Group Photo, 1938 |
