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Dale W Van Voorhis

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Dale Van Voorhis Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Nov. 6, 2024.

Hiram - On October 26, 2024, Dale Wilbur Van Voorhis of Hiram, Ohio. passed away. He was 83.

Dale was born in Canton, Ohio to Wilbur and Leila (Reichman) Van Voorhis on September 7, 1941. He grew up hunting and fishing. He helped at his father's warehouse and worked at Myer's Lake Amusement Park during the summers. Dale graduated from Jackson High School and then from Marietta College, going on to obtain his Master's degree in finance from The Wharton School of Finance at of the University of Pennsylvania.

After earning his CPA certification, Dale worked for Price Waterhouse, where he was assigned to the accounting office of Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. While at Cedar Point, he met his future partners and formed Funtime Incorporated. This group of entrepreneurs bought Geauga Lake Amusement Park in Aurora, Ohio, in 1969. Under their care and management, the company then grew to include Darian Lake Amusement Park in Corfu, New York, and Wyandotte Amusement Park in Powell, Ohio.

Eventually, after making those parks successful, Dale moved on to form his own amusement park consulting firm, eventually joining with ParksAmerica, operating animal safari parks in Georgia, Missouri, and Texas. Dale retired in 2023.

When not working, Dale enjoyed in hunting, fishing, and farming. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and was able to travel extensively around the world.

Dale is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Bonita, and their four children, Kathryn (Jeffrey) Mayerson, Timothy (Gwendolyn) Van Voorhis, K.C. (Megan) Van Voorhis, and Michael (Courtney) Van Voorhis and with six grandchildren: Kent (Alexandra) Mayerson, Conner and Logan Van Voorhis, and Dorian, Finn, and Evelyn Van Voorhis. Dale is also survived by his sister, Rita Schlemmer, and brother, Larry Van Voorhis.

In lieu of flowers: please consider gifts in memory of Dale can be sent to:

Marietta College

Attn. Advancement

215 Fifth Street

Marietta, Ohio 45750

Attention "Friends of Rowing"

Online at Marietta College https://www.marietta.edu/give.

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