Dale B. Ward, 93, of West Lafayette, Indiana, and native of Illinois, died Saturday at University Place in West Lafayette. Born October 30, 1918, to the late Bert E. and Ethel (King) Ward and was raised in rural Van Orin, Illinois.
He married Viola M. Fundell, resident of Bureau County, in 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona and she preceded him in death. Dale was a 1936 graduate of Ohio High School, a 1940 graduate of the University of Illinois and received a M.S. Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University in 1956.
He retired as a Colonel after a 30 year career in the United States Air Force in 1972, as the Professor of Air Science at Purdue University. Col. Ward served as a flight instructor during W.W.II, flew 22 combat missions in Korea, and received the following Medals: Meritorious Service, Air, A.F. Commendation, Outstanding Unit Award, A.M. Defense Service, A.M. Campaign, National Defense Service, A.F. Overseas Ribbon, Armed Forces Res., and United Nations Service.
He was awarded the following badges: Pilot, Senior Pilot and Command Pilot with more than 6000 flying hours. Dale was also awarded the coveted Chinese Pilot?s wings during an assignment in Taiwan.
In his retirement, he continued to operate farms in Illinois and Indiana. He was a member of the Air Force Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, the Shelby County Historical Society, Tippecanoe County Historical Society, and the American Quarter Horse Assoc.
Surviving are two children, Karen Schrepel, (Milt) of Granbury, TX, and Janelle Ward of Santa Barbara, California; two grandchildren Dawn Schrepel, of Washington, D.C., and Bryan Schrepel, of Grapevine, TX. Also surviving is a sister Verna Lee Broers, of Walnut, Illinois, and a brother Donal Ward of Walnut, Illinois.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd. Service 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel. Memorials, in Dale?s name, may be directed to a charity of your choice.