Velma Ruth Daniels passed away on April 24th, 2026, at the age of 71. She was born in Gunnison, Colorado to Howard and Beatric Trobaugh. She grew up in Gunnison with two older sisters, Wana and Laura. Velma graduated from Palisade high school in 1973. After graduating high school, she went to work for the Palisade Nursing Home as a nurse's aid. Later she worked for the Teller Arms and La Villa Grande nursing homes. In 1974, Velma married Dave Daniels of Mack, Colorado. Together they had a long and happy marriage, fifty-two years. In 1983 Dave and Velma moved to Sunset, Utah. There, they had one son, Jake. They moved back to Grand Junction in 1990 where Velma went back to work for Sodexo food services at Mesa College, where she worked before they moved to Utah. She retired from Sodexo in 2017 after working for them for thirty years. Velma enjoyed racing at our local dragstrip as well as traveling and racing at other dragstrips in the western United States. In the summer the Daniels, Sievers, and Carmacks would take their vacations together. Traveling and racing at Pheonix, Las Vegas, Boise, Salt Lake, or Denver and once at Bakersfield, California for the Hot Rod Reunion. Velma was co-owner of the Tombstone drag racing operation with her husband, Dave. She was a key participant in the racing operation. Whether maintenance on the car, helping build engines, driving the tow vehicle back from a run, packing the parachute, or getting things ready when traveling, she was always there to help with anything that needed to be done. Racing for as long as we have, over thirty-five years, I never could have done it without her. Velma has many friends at the dragstrip and loved the drag racing community. After retiring we started to go side-by-siding. Velma loved to explore the trails and their surroundings in Colorado and Utah. Velma is preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Beatrice Trobaugh and older sister Laura Elsas. She is survived by her husband, Dave, her son, Jake, daughter-in-law, Briana, sister Wana (Henry) Veeder, and grandchildren Brayden, Ryan, David, and Elliana, which she loved very much and enjoyed spending time with them. Velma was my companion helper, and best friend. She will be greatly missed by all of us who loved her.