Howard Dale

Howard Clarence Dale

Upland, CA —Howard Clarence Dale, 83, died at his home in Upland, CA on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. He was born in Great Falls, MT to Adolph and Agnes (Rusick) Dale on May 12, 1933. At a young age, he and his older brother helped their father farm, driving tractor and harvesting. Howard was valedictorian of the 1951 graduating class at Fairfield High School and was proud to captain the Eagles football team his senior year and receive the Most Valuable Player award. He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Montana State College and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on June 4, 1956.

After a brief period of employment as an electrical engineer with Boeing in Seattle, Howard was called to active duty in September, and served as a communications officer in aircraft control and warning squadrons at Bartlesville A.F.S., OK and Cartwright Air Station, Labrador. On June 20, 1960 he transferred to the 6596th Instrumentation Squadron, Vandenberg A.F.B., CA as an electronics engineer. His assigned duties were in direct support of initial space launch and orbital operations. The remainder of his assignments were in Program Development and Engineering Management at major program offices (PO) which were responsible for the design, development and acquisition of new military systems. These assignments were in the Communications Satellite System PO, Los Angeles, A.F.S., CA (July 19, 1963); Airborne Warning and Control System PO, Hanscom Field, MA (March 15, 1969), and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles PO, Norton A.F.B., CA (May 18, 1975). After retiring from the Air Force on January 1, 1977, he worked as an engineer for Martin Marietta in CA on cargo placement and support in the Space Shuttle program and in upgrading the Federal Air Traffic Control System.

Howard married Ruth Klisis on June 8, 1964 and is survived by her; daughter Lori (Marcus) von Kapff and their two children, Isabel and Luke of Winnetka, IL; son Eric (Rita) Dale and their two children Keith and Katie of Golden, CO; and sister Darlene (Ken) Lee of Fairfield, MT. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ron (Bonnie). At his request, no services are planned.