Douglas Fairbanks "Dude" Dale

Douglas Fairbanks "Dude" Dale, 84, passed away August 15, 2010 after fifteen years of declining health due to Alzheimer’s disease. Doug was born September 2, 1925 in Marysville, Yuba County, California to Polly and Joseph Mills Dale. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Smith Dale, two brothers, Vernon and Henry Dale; and three sisters, Grace Edwards, Viola Suttle, and Emaline McGee.Doug returned with his family to North Carolina as a young child. As a teenager; he assisted with the care of his younger sisters and contributed to the family finances displaying the strong traits of responsibility and dependability that characterized his family and work life, and the expectations he passed along to his children. His sisters would often comment he was his mother’s pet, and Doug held his mother in high esteem until her death. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed playing pranks on his family and friends. In his younger years, Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, and he was a quiet, reflective, determined, hard working man.Doug was a World War II veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from Drexel Heritage Furniture as plant manager of Table Rock, Plant 6 after 39 years of service.He is survived by two daughters, Barbara Dale Huffman, and Deborah Dale and husband, Edward; three grandsons, Douglas Huffman, Paul Dale, III and wife, Shelby, and Jarrod Dale and wife, LaDonna , all of Morganton; four great-grandchildren, Catherine Michelle Dale, Colten Hunter Dale, Alexius Kathleen Dale, and Bryar Jacob Dale; a sister, Annie Mae Johnson of Morganton; and numerous brothers and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank the staff at both the Shaire Center and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care for their loving care of Doug during his long illness and final days.Graveside services for family and friends will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at Burke Memorial Park with military rites conducted by the Valdese American Legion Post 234. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 10:00 until 11:00 am at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., N.W., Lenoir, NC 28645.