Charles H. Dale

Mr. Charles H. Dale, age 93, passed from this life into eternity with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 19, 2019, in the Ocean Springs Hospital. Charles was born on November 13, 1925, to C.H. Dale and Ina Lee Cooper Dale. He was born in the Teacher's Home in Leaf, Mississippi, where his father headed up the little school there and also taught grades 1-8. He grew up in Leaf, Hawthorne and Lucedale, Mississippi. During his school years at Lucedale, his mother ensured that he had jobs. His strong work ethic was developed from an early age since he entered the work force during fifth grade. He worked in a meat market cleaning, slicing meat and cheese, killing and dressing chickens, etc. He worked at a grocery store where he again did a variety of things, including delivering groceries, meat and kerosene on his bicycle. He delivered newspapers and sold magazines on the side. During his junior/senior years of high school he worked in a canning factory and the Mobile Shipyard. Charles graduated from Lucedale High School in 1944 and began his federal career in the United States Army Air Corps as a tail gunner on B-24's until 1946 at which time he received an honorable discharge. He went on to graduate from Mississippi Southern College (now U.S.M.) earning a B.S. degree and the title of Mr. Mississippi Southern. Following graduation he taught school in Leakesville for one year and in Florida for a semester. In 1951 he began his civilian career at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. In August of 1956, Charles was married to Gloria N. Smith Dale of Leakesville. They moved to Ocean Springs and Gloria began her teaching career with the Ocean Springs School System. Charles continued his civilian career at Keesler Air Force Base. During his 39 years of civil service he served many positions within the 3300 Technical Training Wing beginning as a training instructor and rising to Chief, Administration and Air Traffic Constrol Systems Branch, GS-13. Charles loved his country and was proud to have served in the military. He was very community minded. He worked as president of the Ocean Springs PTA, president of the Ocean Springs Lions Club, and before his health declined he was heavily involved with the First Baptist Church, where he was a member. He served as chairman of the Deacon Body, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher and at times even filled the pulpit in the absence of the pastor. Charles loved people. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved working on the family farm growing produce, raising cattle and cutting timber. He also enjoyed golfing with his buddies at Gulf Hills. He dearly loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, C.H. and Ina Lee Cooper Dale, brother, John L. Dale and sister-in-law, Winnie Faye Howell Dale. Survivors include Gloria, his loving wife of 63 years, son Les (Lynn) Dale, daughter, Tammy Dale, three grandchildren, Kasey (Ryan) Roberts, Bradley (Amy) Dale and Zachary Dale, four great-grandchildren, Kaley, Brylee and Easton Roberts and Harlie Anna Dale, niece, Kathy Dale, nephew, John Dale and a host of very special friends. Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 24, from 9:30 am until 11am, with an 11am church service, all at The First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs. Burial will follow at 3pm in the Magnolia Cemetery in Lucedale, MS. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be made to The First Baptist Church Building Fund. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.