Jackson M. Dale

Jackson M. Dale, 84, of Warrenton, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at home.

He was born Dec. 14, 1926, in Canadian, Texas, to Anderson “AC” and Leta Dale.

In 1935, the family moved to the Gunnison, Colo., area. In order to attend high school, he moved to the Phelp’s cattle ranch closer to town. He lived and worked on the ranch until he graduated from Gunnison County High School in 1944.

Mr. Dale joined the U.S. Army. During World War II, he spent time in Okinawa. He was honorably discharged May 27, 1947. While he was in the Army, the family moved to the Knappa area, and he rejoined them there.

In 1948, he worked at the Hanford Nuclear Plant in the Tri-Cities area of Washington, where he met his future wife.

On May 27, 1950, he married Ruth E. Anderson, of Warrenton, in Lewiston, Idaho. She survives, residing in Warrenton.

Mr. Dale worked for the federal government for more than 25 years at Tongue Point Naval Station and Mount Hebo Air Force Base. He retired from the federal civil service in 1975, then worked 10 years at Camp Rilea for the state of Oregon. He retired in April 1992.

He was a member of the On the Road Again car club, the Lower Columbia Classic Car Club and the Beaver Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America. He served as vice president and secretary for the local chapter of National Active & Retired Federal Employees. He hauled sand to fill luminaries to light the American Cancer Society’s local Relay for Life events, and donated more than 13 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. With his wife, he delivered “Sunday Supper” meals for the Catholic Church in Seaside through Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where he was a longtime member. He was a frequent attendee of Chinook (Wash.) Lutheran Church, and most recently, a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Astoria. He was also an active visitor to the Astoria Senior Center,

Family members said that throughout his working years, he spent many vacation weeks working with his brothers-in-law on their cranberry bogs during the annual harvest. He enjoyed old cars, swap meets, clam digging, country music, square dancing and joking with all the ladies. He was very proud of his family.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sisters, Louise Goska of Corvallis and Bennie Lunstrum of Homeland, Calif.; a brother-in-law, Eric Anderson of Seaside; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn and George Best of Beaverton and Diane and Andy DeMott of Spokane, Wash.; four grandchildren, Elisa Buckley of Beaverton, Sarah Kinnie of Hillsboro, Jennifer Forland of Seattle and Jeff DeMott of Portland; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Brown and Linnia Bowen; and a brother-in-law, Lloyd Anderson.

A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Peace Lutheran Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, File 30947, P.O. Box 60000, San Francisco, CA 94160, or Peace Lutheran Church, 565 12th St., Astoria, OR 97103.

Caldwell's Funeral & Cremation Arrangement Center in Seaside is in charge of the arrangements.