Dale A. Urban

DALE ALLEN URBAN March 14, 1935 ˜ September 12, 2021 Dale Allen Urban passed away peacefully Sept. 12, 2021. He was born March 14, 1935 in Lead, SD, to Walter Marshall Urban and Faye Redinger Urban. The family moved west in 1946 where Dale attended Hockinson M.S. and Battle Ground H.S. He graduated from Vancouver H.S. in 1953. While at Hockinson and Battle Ground schools, Dale met the love of his life, Regene Bartlett. They were married on February 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 4th 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 coworkers, but they looked up to him. During retirement Dale and Regene spent winters in Yuma, AZ, where they extensively explored the area, including the desert, in their 4WD 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 predeceased 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 Street, Vancouver, WA 98665 on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2:00 p.m. Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits

Dale A. Urban

March 14, 1935 - September 12, 2021