Dale Wayne Caruthers

Baldwin City – Memorial services for Dale Wayne Caruthers, 81, Baldwin City, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Baldwin CityHe died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, at Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility.He was born July 17, 1926, near Waverly, the son of Jason Simpson and Anna Eliza Ice Caruthers. He was the youngest of 11 children. He attended public school at Prairie View. He moved to Wellsville with his family in 1935. He received a G.E.D. from Franklin County in 1947 and a State of Kansas Honorary Diploma from Wellsville High School on May 20, 2001, in recognition of military service. Mr. Caruthers served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on a submarine squadron in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged April 23, 1946. He worked in construction and auto mechanics for several years before working as a meat cutter for Allan Daugherty’s Grocery from 1948 to 1957. He and his family purchased the grocery store from Allan Daugherty in 1957. He operated Dale’s Grocery for 26 years and semi-retired in 1983. He worked for U.S.D. 348 maintenance department and as special education driver for 15 years and retired in 1999.Mr. Caruthers was a member of First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City; served as a cub Scoutmaster in the 1950s; was a past president of the Baldwin Commercial Club; received a citizen of the year award from the Baldwin Jaycees; was a commander of American Legion Post 228; was past master of Palmyra Lodge 23 Masonic Lodge; was past patron of Eastern Star No. 162; was past chef de gare, 40/8 No. 786; and served on the Baldwin City Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years.He married Barbara M. Danley on Sept. 8, 1946, at First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City. They shared more than 61 years of marriage. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include a daughter, Joyce Septer and husband Tom, Spotsville, Ky.; two sons, Douglas W. and companion Julie, Pomona, and Randy D. and wife Terri, Baldwin City; three grandchildren, Tammy, Tommy and Sean; three step-grandchildren, Michelle, Travis and Tera; three great-grandchildren, Trasity, Wilson and Magen; and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren, Taylor, Hannah, Micah, Sammy, Quinton, Caleb, Austin, Aubrey, Michael and Gabriel.He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Roger, Russell, Walter and Ralph; and four sisters, Naomi Porter, Opal DePue, Erma Thompson and Ruth Vickers.The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. at the church before the services.The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church or Baldwin City Fire Department, sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City 66006.