I promise to complete this section when I can speak. Sorry for the delay! Especially because it's such a great story.

Dana’s parents Shirley Traylor and Mainard (Mel) Leach were married in Albany, Oregon on September 22, 1946. Dana was born in Eureka, California on July 1, 1950. He weighed 6 lbs 7oz. Shirley and Mel brought Dana back to his home in Oregon.

Three years later as a family they moved to Long Beach. Dana’s baby brother Alvin Leach was born on January 26, 1954.Around 1956 they moved to the bay area where both children attended Fairmont elementary school and spent summers visiting their Grandpa at the lumber mill.They both had fond memories of their carefree summers.Dana had a large group of friends back then that included Scott B and Joe B., David S, Donald K, and “the Turners boys”.

Eventually, Shirley and Mainard dissolved their marriage and Shirley moved into a place of her own with Dana and Alvin.In the same building was a tall handsome man name Williard (Bill) Hintze. They fell in love and ended up living out the rest of their days happily married.Bill had a son of his own, Douglas who became a beloved Step-Brother and Uncle in our family.

Bill and Shirley were married in 1962 and shortly thereafter they moved the whole family to Wilmington, California. Dana attended Wilmington Junior High where he met Deborah MacAlpine.  The two fell in love in Junior High.

Dana and Debbie both attended Banning High School together.  Dana loved playing sports. He played basketball, baseball, golfed and was on the bowling team. Dana dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. He actually played baseball with the minor leagues but a shoulder injury prevented from progressing to the major leagues. 

He and his friends also had a rock band in which Dana played the drums. He actually currently still has a beautiful set of drums that he occasionally played.

Dana graduated from Banning High School in 1968…with Honors of course. 

Dad was a young car enthusiast. His first car was a 1954 Chevy given to him by his Aunt. He sold it to get his 1964 Impala. This was a true show car. Decked out to the max and he was very proud of it.  Unfortunately it was uninsured and stolen from his house. He was HEARTBROKEN!  Eventually he moved on to his red Porsche, he owned a beautiful Cadillac, a 1959 Mercedes, and an an El Dorado.

Dana and Debbie got married in 1969. Debbie was a hair dresser and Dana was in college and working at Firestone. From 1969-1972 Dana enrolled in Dominguez Hills Community College and then transferred to California State University, Long Beach.  He earned his bachelors degree in business accounting. 

He joined the Airforce with the hopes to be a pilot but his eyesight was not 20/20 so that didn't work out so he landed in accounting. Dana did his first 6 months of basic training at Moffett Federal Airfield. Dana and Debbie went to Texas to Shepherd Airforce Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. At that point he did not want to reenlist so he enlisted as a reserve.

In 1973 Dana and Debbie moved to San Jose near Dana's parents where he landed his job Monsanto.  

In 1974 Carey Dianne Leach was born in Mountain View, California. The three lived together but only for a short while.  With the desire to be a successful breadwinner Dana temporarily followed his career to Missouri to work for Monsanto. Debbie and Carey stayed in Long Beach to be near both sets of Grandparents.  The distance and time changed the relationship and Dana and Debbie divorced.

Two years later, around 1977, he eventually left Monsanto and returned to Huntington Beach where he and Barbara DeLaRonde reunited. Dana decided to establish a career in real estate so he bought a triplex in Long Beach and they lived together for a 3 years. Barbara and Dana truly loved each other from that point forward, but for both of them, life took many turns before their love story played out.

Dana sold his triplex to buy his home on Lemon Street in Long Beach.  This was a sweet home where the windows were always open, 94.7 The Wave played endless smooth jazz, and the doves cooed in the morning. Carey loved to spend time there! Her and her Dad would do home improvement projects and "rock out" together!  

See the next chapter to learn what happens next...