Roger Dale, 72, of Kearney, Mo., passed peacefully from this life on March 29, 2017, surrounded by his family.
Roger was born April 29, 1944, in St. Louis, Mo. When he was 8 years of age, he was adopted by Jennie and Ralph Dale and came to live in Kearney, Mo. Roger was welcomed into the Dale family and grew up with many cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who showered love upon him. When Roger was 15, he welcomed his first sister, then four more siblings within 6 years, and enjoyed being the “big brother” to all. Roger graduated from Kearney High School in 1962. He went to work at Hallmark Cards and then to Western Electric. Later, Roger transferred to TWA where he worked for 32 years until his retirement in 2001.
Roger was proceeded in death by his infant son, Steven Lee; his daughter, Vickie Dale Vanattan; a grandson, Kaze; and his father, Ralph Dale.
Roger took much joy in being a father. He had two children of his own, and then adopted six others. He is survived by his son, Edward (Kathy) Dale, of Aiken, S.C.; daughter, Dianna (Keith) Brockman, of Kansas City, Mo.; son, Brian (Shelly) Dale, Odessa, Mo.; Michael (Brenda) Dale, St. Joseph, Mo.; David (Cassie) Dale, St. Joseph, Mo.; Stephen Dale, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Scott (Katy) Dale, Tucson, Ariz. Other survivors include his mother, Jennie Dale, of Kearney, Mo.; sisters, Elizabeth (Terry) Barmann, Kansas City, Mo.; Jennifer (Todd) Jones, Tacoma, Wash.; brothers, Ralph (Olivia) Dale, Kearney, Mo.; Danny (Dana) Dale, Kearney, Mo.; sister, Emily Dale, Excelsior Springs, Mo.; 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Kearney United Methodist Church from 10 to 11 a.m. with a service at the church at 11 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kearney, Mo.
Arrangements are through Fry-Bross and Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney.