Dale Allen Urban passed away peacefully on Sept. 12, 2021. He was born March 14, 1935, in Lead, South Dakota, to Walter Marshall Urban and Faye Redinger Urban. The family moved west in 1946 where Dale attended Hockinson Middle School and Battle Ground High School. He graduated from Vancouver High School in 1953. While at Hockinson and Battle Ground schools, Dale met the love of his life, Regene Bartlett. They were married on Feb. 26, 1954.
One of the highlights of their long married life was the time they spent in Guam while Dale served in the U.S. Navy. Back in the states, they opened D & D Union 76 Gas Station at Fourth and Washington in Vancouver with their partners, Daryl and Wilma Phares. They successfully operated that business until a freeway expansion eliminated their location. Dale then went to work in construction. He was a valued union laborer who always showed up early, worked hard and worked smart. He was dubbed “the old man” by his younger co-workers, but they looked up to him.
During retirement, Dale and Regene spent winters in Yuma, Arizona where they extensively explored the area, including the desert, in their four wheel drive truck. They were also avid deer and elk hunters. Dale hunted in the Klickitat area with his good friend, Joe Crull, for over 50 years. Dale and Regene also camped in the Klickitat area in the summers with best friends John and Darlene Mortenson as well as Darrell and Kathy Davis and others.
Dale was truly a “people person.” He loved watching people and hearing their stories. He never met a stranger. He was also quite a storyteller and a trickster, Regene being his favorite target. He particularly enjoyed the children in his life and could play at their level. When they lived in Guam, the neighbor children would come to the door and ask Regene if her little boy could come out and play. His many nieces and nephews also loved their Uncle Dale, and he loved them.
Dale’s beloved Regene preceded him in 2018. He was also preceded in death by his much loved brothers Edward, Walter and wife Betty, and Richard, as well as his sister Mary Smedley and husband Larry. Dale is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Brenda and Alan Gardner; his grandchildren Bryce and wife Jessica and Eric Gardner; great-grandchildren George and Alice Gardner; sister-in-law Joyce Urban; and brothers Johnny and David Urban, as well as many nieces and nephews, cousins and close friends.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 905 NW 94th St., Vancouver, Washington, 98665 on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, at 2 p.m.
