Charles W. Day

Charles W. Day, who worked during the early days of the Lab as a welder, died Jan. 21. He was 87.

Born May 25, 1922, in Lafayette, Tenn. to Cecil G. and Grace J. Day, he moved to Alameda, Calif. with his family when he was two. He later moved to the Oakland area.

As a teenager, Day excelled in music and played the clarinet in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. As a young adult, he worked in the Lake Tahoe area for various resorts, drove snow plows on the old Highway 80 and worked for his parents at Day’s Lakepoint Resort in Kings Beach.

He was an avid snow and water skier. During World War II, he worked in the Alameda shipyards as a welder. In the 1950s, he also worked as a welder for the Lab.

Day married Betty King in 1957 and they made their home in San Jose. His expertise in the welding industry took him to Central and South America. The couple opened Dayco Welding Equipment Supplies in Campbell, Calif. The business sold in 1977 and the couple retired to Silver Springs, Nev. and later moved to Bullhead City, Ariz., where they lived until his death.

He was an active member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.

Some of the family’s favorite activities and memories are of many trips to the beach and camping trips in their motor home. He enjoyed visits with his children and grandchildren, and boating and fishing at Lake Lahontan.

He was preceded in death by sons, Lowell Day and Mark King.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty; two daughters, Laura McGreevy and Therese Koll; three sons, Michael Day, Robert Day and Todd Day; brother, George Douglas Day; 18 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services were held Jan. 29 in Carson City, Nev. The family requests memorial donations be made in Day’s name to a charity of choice.