William Paul Dale Jr.

William Paul Dale, Jr.
William Paul Dale Jr., 88, of Hanover Township (Lehigh), went home to our Lord on Thursday, August 27, 2009. After a short stay in LVH-Muhlenberg, he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones. Bill was born on December 14, 1920, in Arlington, Mass., as the seventh child of eight to the late William P. and Annie (Bresnan) Dale. On December 2, 1950, he married Janet M. Delorey and together they had six children. Bill spent 40 years working for the former General Acceptance Corp. aka FinanceAmerica/Chrysler First, which was headquartered in Allentown. He started in 1950 working in GAC Branch management before becoming a Southeast Regional Auditor in 1958 and then moved to the GAC Home Office in Allentown in 1960 to serve as the Chief Auditor and Corporate Director of Examinations for many years. During the 1970s, he was a FinanceAmerica Field Office Trainer and moved on to Senior Credit Analyst and Director of Credit before retiring from Chrysler First Corporation in 1990. Bill was also involved at one time in an Auditor capacity with the Hanover Township (Lehigh County) Governing Board. Bill was a devoted husband and father, and dedicated parishioner at Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church. Throughout his life he volunteered for the youth within his community serving as a coach, fundraiser, and board member for CYO football, basketball, wrestling and baseball within his parish and as a long time Umpire at NorthWest Little League. He was also a long time member of the Bethlehem Catholic H.S. Booster Club. Bill was a 1938 graduate of Arlington (MA) High School where he played football, basketball and baseball including an appearance in the 1938 State Championship Baseball Game at BRAVES Field and he continued to play semipro baseball in the summer. He enrolled in the University of Miami (FL) in September 1940, where he played football before signing up for the Marine Corp in February 1942. Despite being selected as the president of the Miami Class of 1944, he had to transfer to Duke University for fall 1943 until he began Parris Island Basic Training. After completing Marine Corp V-12 Officer Training at Quantico (VA) in April 1944, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and in July, he was transferred overseas to Guadalcanal where he was placed in the 4th Marines Regiment, 6th Division. In April 1945, He participated in the landing on Okinawa where he fought bravely until being wounded on May 25th for his 3rd purple heart. Following his recovery on Guam, He participated in the first landing at Yokosuka, Japan in August 1945 during the signing of the Japanese surrender. In January 1946, he was sent to China to assimilate the new Marines that were being sent there following the war. He was released from active duty with the rank of Captain in May 1946 and continued as a member of the Marine Reserves until 1957. He returned to Miami to graduate in June 1947 where he worked as Asst Director of Operations at the Orange Bowl facility until joining GAC in 1950. Bill was a shining example of the greatest generation serving God, Country, Family and Community with courage and humility. His love of life inspired all who knew him. Survivors: Daughters, Ann Marie and husband Steven Markowitz of Allentown; Kate Oates of Orlando; Lisa and husband Bob Fafard; sons, Thomas Dale and wife Margarita of Reston, Va.; Christopher Dale of Allentown; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, and his son, William P. Dale III; and his seven sisters and brothers. Services: A viewing will be held on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. in Downing Funeral Home, Inc., 1002 W. Broad Street, Bethlehem and Tuesday morning from 10-10:30 a.m. in Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Burial in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem. Online condolences at www.downingfuneralhome.com Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church Memorial Fund in memory of William P. Dale