Dale E. "Sonny" Backs

DECATUR - Funeral services for Dale E. "Sonny" Backs, 60, Lawrence, KS will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the First Christian Church in Lawrence, KS. Burial will be in the Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, IL, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2011. He died on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at his home of pancreatic cancer. Dale was born on August 14, 1950 in Louisville, IL, the son of Harry D. & Edna Summers Backs. He moved to Lawrence from Decatur, IL in 1994. He was currently employed as the General Manager of Crown Toyota in Lawrence. He began his career in the automotive industry in 1974 at Fahrenbach Chevrolet in Decatur, IL. He started in the parts department and was promoted to parts manager, service director, used car manager and then the general manager of the Crown Oldsmobile-Toyota dealership, also in Decatur. He has been associated with Miles Schnaer, the owner of dealerships in both Decatur and Lawrence since January 1979. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Lawrence, where he served on the Trustee Board, as an usher, and as Chairman of the Personnel Affairs Committee. He was also a member of the Kansas Auto Dealers Association (KADA) and the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA). He was the recipient of several Presidential Awards by Toyota Auto Sales International. Dale was married to Del (Jones) Shelton on October 18, 1986 in Decatur, IL. She survives, of the home. Other survivors include a daughter, Crystal (husband, Mike) Foreman, of Strasburg, IL, a son, Christopher (wife, Rebecca) Backs, of Los Angeles, CA, a step-daughter, Shari (husband, Eddie) Ermicida, of Pismo Beach, CA, a step-son, Patrick Shelton, of Santa Maria, CA, his mother, Edna Backs, of Louisville, IL, two sisters, Pam (husband, Alan) Huff, of Flora, IL, Annette (husband, Bill) Garrity, Clementine, NJ and six grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. He will lie in state from noon – 9p.m. Friday at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. The family suggests memorials in his name to Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) Oncology Department through the LMH Endowment Association, the First Christian Church or to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation and Hospice Care and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at http://legacy.com/obituaries/herald-review/