Dale Keith Runge

He was born May 12, 1939, in Charlotte Center, a son of the late Waldemar Johannes Alfred and Feryl (nee Penhollow) Runge and was a 1957 graduate of Cassadaga Valley Central School.

He worked his way through college at Grove City, finishing in 3 1/2 years and in between summer and part time jobs working his way through college enrolled at Canisius College receiving his Bachelor of Science in mathematics. While in college, Dale was involved with student council and president of both the Young Democrats and Lutheran Club.

He took a teaching job (mathematics and science) at Kensington High School, Buffalo.

In the summer of 1962 Dale enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went to preflight training in Pensacola, Fla., commissioned as an ensign. He then trained at NAS Glynco (Brunswick, GA), Paxtuxent River (NAS PAX River), Maryland. While there he attended the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Rally where he made the “I Have a Dream” speech. Dale also questioned George Lincoln Rockwell while picketing the White House. He was then sent to Squadron VW-11 as a barrier CICS officer patrolling the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland. Station in NAS Argentia, Newfoundland and deployed to Keflavik, Iceland. While there, he made his first trip to Europe. Dale was then transferred to the educational unit in Providence, R,I, (NAS Newport) (FAETULANT DET #3) and decommissioned the detachment. He was then ordered as assistant aviation fuels officer USS Ticonderoga (CVA #14), home ported in San Diego and deployed to Vietnam, with stopovers in Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island, Okinawa, Sasebo and Yokohama, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines and Vietnam (DaNang and Cam Ranh Bay).

While aboard the “Tico” he took the law school admission test. He received his honorable discharge in 1966.

Dale then took a job with IBM, Los Angeles as a systems engineer and retired after 25 years. He also attended law school at Western State University and received a J.D. degree and worked as a lawyer part time and then full time after his IBM retirement in 1991.

He was a member of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bellflower, Calif., Sons of the American Revolution and American Legion Hollywood Post 43. He enjoyed jogging, track and field, genealogy, and had traveled to Greece, most European countries several times, Africa including Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and all 50 states of the United States.

Brother of Daniel W. and the late David J. Runge. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 11a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, in Jordan Funeral Home, Sinclairville. Entombment in Cassadaga Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Cassadaga Memorial American Legion 1280.

Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials to, Cassadaga Memorial American Legion 1280, Cassadaga, NY 14718.