Herbert J. Dale 4-27-1922 to 3-22-2013

Herbert J. Herb Dale passed away peacefully at Kennewick General Hospital on March 22, 2013, with his family by his side, his death a result of a fall.

His life was divided into five periods: His younger years on a farm near Ryegate, Montana; his time in the Marines during WWII; marrying and raising a family in Richland while he worked in the Areas; remarrying and raising a second family in Richland; and his retirement years in Richland and Kennewick.

His life on the farm was shared with three brothers and three sisters. They had chores on the farm and helped care for their mother, who died when Herb was 16. He graduated in 1940 from Ryegate High School and worked as a carpenter with his father.

In 1942, he and brother Elwood, joined the Marines, and Herb was assigned to Motor Transportation. He saw action in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Saipan, Marianas Islands, and Tinian. He was one of 18 survivors out of 82 at Tarawa. Elwood was killed in action in the Pacific. Herb was sent to LeJune, NC for retraining in 1944 for the expected conflict with Japan, and was discharged in 1945.

He worked in Chicago building telephones, in Seattle at American Can Company, and in North Richland as a fireman. After dealing with cancer as a result of a misdiagnosed melanoma, he went back to work for GE at Hanford, where he worked for 37 years. He and his wife, Theresa Meacham, and their two boys, John and Mike, moved into their home at 2305 Pullen, Richland in 1949. They were joined by two more boys, Patrick and David. He lived in this home for 59 years. Thresa died in 1972.

Herb remarried in 1973 to Peggy Watson. Her three children, Robert, Linda and David, joined the family. Herb and Peggy were very active in square dancing with the Prairie Shufflers, travelling to dances all around the Northwest.

Retirement finally came in 1987, allowing Herb to take up two of his favorite activities, walking and quilting. He made more than 150 quilts for family, friends and charity. He and Peggy attended several Dale family reunions planned by Herb, and enjoyed traveling in the northwest with Peggy's parents in their RV. Later they made trips to Hawaii and New Zealand, in 2007; they sold the home in Richland and moved to the Manor at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick. Thanks to the ladies in the exercise class for the "lovely" socks!

In 1996 Herb found out he had a son in New Zealand, where he had been stationed as a Marine in 1943. John Wayne Renshaw and his wife and children were a welcome addition to the family.

Herb is survived by his wife, Peggy; two sisters, and a brother; his five sons; his two step-sons and step-daughter; 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Herb had a wonderful sense of humor and was a delightful tease, as anyone who worked with him or spent time with him would know. He was, indeed, one of the good guys. We will all miss him but know that he lives on forever in our hearts.

There will be a celebration of Herb's life on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 1:00pm at Bethel Church, 601 Shockley Road in Richland.