Merle T. Dale

Merle T. Dale, 87, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 1:45 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Heritage Manor in Walnut. Born July 4, 1928, in New Bedford to John Howard and Daphne Ambyr (Draper) Dale, he married Blanche Louise Wallis April 30, 1950, in the First Christian Church of Walnut. She died Nov. 6, 2008. He graduated from Manlius High School in 1946. He was a lifetime farmer and was also head of maintenance at Kraft Foods in Manlius and Kory Industries in Manlius. He was a member of the New Bedford Christian Church, where he was an elder and taught Sunday school for many years, and Walnut Masonic Lodge AF & AM 722. He was a 3rd Degree Mason and a past master of Manlius Masonic Lodge 491. His faith and family were very important to him. He enjoyed attending all of his grandchildren''s and great- grandchildren''s events. Surviving are one son, Alan T. (Chris) Dale of Walnut; one daughter-in-law, Sharon Dale of Wyanet; one daughter, Cindy (Allen) Plumley of Bartlesville, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Tammy Benson) Dale of Walnut, Sherri (Mike) Thacker of Walnut, Rachel (Scott) Sabin of Wyanet, Sarah (Troy) Fehrenbacher of Charleston, Lisa (Todd) Cole of Mars, Pa., Dane (Crystal) Plumley of Pearland, Texas, and Ryan (Raquel) Plumley of Bartlesville, Okla.; 16 great-grandchildren, Emma, Gracey and Trey Dale, Ella Thacker, Stone and Krew Sabin, Austin, Samantha, Carter and Allison Fehrenbacher, Eli and Paige Cole, Olivia and Elena Plumley, and Nikolas and Kristopher Plumley; one brother, Robert (Suzanne) Dale, Ohio, Ill.; one sister-in-law, Shirley Wallis of Sterling; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Blanche; one son, Arthur Dale; and one brother, Lawrence Dale. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the New Bedford Christian Church in New Bedford with the Rev. Brian Moore officiating. A Masonic service will also be held. Burial will be in the Manlius Cemetery in Manlius. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the church. Memorials may be directed to the New Bedford Christian Church, Manlius Cemetery Association and Heritage Manor in Walnut. Pallbearers will be Matthew Dale, Michael Thacker, Scott Sabin, Troy Fehrenbacher, Todd Cole, Dane Plumley and Ryan Plumley.