2.DelmarJ. 'Del'Law, born 17 July 1911 in Sunnyslope, Chelan, Washington. USA (Source: Birth Certificate, Washington State.); died 17 July 1985 in Wenatchee, Chelan, Washington - bur Evergreen Mem. Park (Source: Death Certificate, Washington State.). He was the son of 4. HarveyMcKindryLaw and 5. RosaMay 'Rosie'Baughman. He met 3. ElmaMayGunkel Private.
3.ElmaMayGunkel, born Private. She was the daughter of 6. LesterSylvesterGunkel and 7. FrancesBellLowe.
Notes for Delmar J. 'Del' Law:
Del's birth certificate gives his name as Delmar J. Law but he always wrote his name as Delmer. He told me that his parents intended to name him Delmer Jay Law. The name on his death certificate is Delmar Jay Law - the spelling made to match his birth certificate.
Del was born and raised on his father's cherry orchard on Easy Street, Sunnyslope, Chelan County, Washington. Sunnyslope is located across the Wenatchee River from the City of Wenatchee. He attended the Sunnyslope Brethren Church with his parents when young but was not a church goer as an adult. He was naturally left handed but was made to become right handed in school. He told me that the teacher would hit him on the back of the hand with a ruler every time he tried to use his left hand for writing. The doctors say this is what caused him to have a very slight stutter for the remainder of his life. He quit school after the 10th grade and worked various jobs until he got a job in construction and learned the cement finishing trade. He worked on various construction jobs in Alaska and Washington including the construction of Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington. He was drafted during WW II but was classified 4F when he took the physical because of high blood sugar. He did his part by working for the US Government during the war helping to build Air Force bases.
It was during his time in Alaska, ca 1941-42, that Del learned that his parent's were going to loose their cherry orchard due to their inability to pay back taxes. It was to be auctioned off. Del contacted Clarence Hummel, President of Seattle First National Bank in Wenatchee and asked him to attend the auction on Del's behalf and to purchase his parent's orchard at any price. This was done and his parent's were very relieved to learn that they had not lost their home. Del finally sold the home place in the late 1950's.
Several years after Del and Elma were married, Elma got tired of moving from one construction job to another and wanted to settle down. Del and brothers Walt, Orville, Ray and Russ had bought an apple orchard in E. Wenatchee which Walt managed. Del and Elma moved to E. Wenatchee and Del worked on the orchard. He decided he liked the orchard business, so the brothers bought a 125 acre orchard on the Columbia River, 15 miles north of Orondo, Douglas County, Washington and Del became manager. The E. Wenatchee orchard was sold and the brothers bought a large orchard at Tonasket. The orchards became known as Law Brothers Orchards, Tonasket & Orondo. Over the years Orville and Russ wanted out and the other brothers bought their interest in the orchards. Around 1963 the three remaining brothers did some share exchanging and Walt & Ray became owners of the Tonasket orchard and Del & Elma became owners of the Orondo orchard. Del retired in 1974 and the orchard was purchased by his daughter Bonita and husband Alex McLean. Del and Elma moved to Wenatchee.
Del was 5' 7" with black hair, black eyes and an olive complexion as opposed to his fairer skined, blond or light brown haired siblings. He had a good sense of humor, an outgoing personality, was not afraid to speak his mind (he was a leader, not a follower) and was fair, honest and understanding. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, exploring back roads, boating, loved music, liked to sing and expecially loved family get-togethers. He was a bit mischievous in his younger years and told stories of tipping over outhouses on Halloween and the time a local policeman said 'Del, I'm watching your car'... to which Del replied 'Good, I won't have to lock it.' He was a wonderful, loving father and is fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Obituary - Wenatchee World, Thursday, July 18, 1985:
Delmer J. Law, Wenatchee, died on his 74th birthday Wednesday evening in a local convalescent center following a long illness.
Born July 17, 1911 at Wenatchee, he was a great-grandson of A. B. Peters, early pioneer who helped settle the Sunnyslope area. He spent most of his life in the area except when he worked as a cement finisher on construction of Grand Coulee Dam. During World War II he worked on air bases at Pasa Robles, Calif., and Kodiak, Alaska, and during 1943-44 at Seattle shipyards.
On June 27, 1943 he married Elma Gunkel at Waterville. In 1945, he and four brothers started Law Brothers Orchard north of Orondo on the Columbia River. He retired in 1974 and moved to Wenatchee.
Mr. Law was a past commodore of Lake Wenatchee (sic.-should be Lake Chelan) Yacht Club; a life member of Wenatchee Lodge No. 1186, B.P.O.E.; a life member of Washington State Horticultural Association; and served as secretary of Skookum Growers for 19 years. He was a member of the Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church United.
Survivors include his wife, Elma, at home; one son, Dr. Gordon Law, Wenatchee; four daughters, Mrs. Lowell (Della) Moore, Ephrata, Mrs. Alex (Bonita) McLean, Mansfield, Mrs. Richard (Kay) Livermore, Roseburg, Ore., and Jeanne Holliday, Kirkland; five brothers, Ray Law, Wenatchee, Noble and Walter Law, Tonasket, Glen Law, Rochester, Ind., and Russel Law, Oakland, Calif.; one sister, Lettie Stutsman, Chelan; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Jones and Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Delmer J. Law -- Funeral services will be conducted at the graveside in Evergreen Memorial Park Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. The Rev. Timothy J. Ledbetter will officiate. Memorials in his name are suggested to the building fund of the Brethren-Baptist Church or to the memorial of choice. The interment will follow with arrangements by Jones & Jones Funeral Home. Photo.
