Dale Elwood Waddell

Oct. 29, 1924 - Aug. 30, 2009

DENVER, Colo. -- Dale Elwood Waddell, 84, died Sunday, (Aug. 30, 2009).

He was born on Oct. 29, 1924, in Red Willow County to Jessie and Charlie Waddell. He spent his early years on the farm and attended a rural school through the eighth grade. He graduated from Red Willow Consolidated High School in 1941.

He attended McCook Junior College until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1943. He was in the V-12 program, graduating from Northwestern University in June of 1944. He then attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration for one year. He served in the Pacific theater and was separated from active duty in September of 1946.

He was married to Dolores Schultz in 1948 and they moved to Denver, Colo., that same year. In 1949, he was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Denver where he was active as a choir member as well as a church council member. In 1956, he transferred his membership to Trinity Lutheran Church as a charter member of this mission congregation. He held various positions on the church council and was a choir member for many years. After 50 years at Trinity he became a member of Bethlehem in January 2006.

He worked as a comptroller in private industry during his early years in Denver. In December 1986, he retired from the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center where he had worked for 20 years as a systems accountant. He served on the board of the Space Age Federal Credit Union for 12 years and was instrumental in upgrading their computer and accounting systems. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1981 and was declared legally blind in 2004.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores; daughter, Kathryn of Salt Lake City, Utah; son, Roger of North Carolina; daughter-in-law, Patti; two brothers, Wayne of Indianola and Don of Denver; and two grandsons.

A memorial service was at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

His body was cremated and interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery with military rites.

Cards of condolences may be sent to Mrs. Dale Waddell, 2803 South Vrain St., Denver, CO 80236.

Announcement courtesy of Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.