Dale D Stithem

Dale Dwayne Stithem of Shawnee, Kansas died Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at his home in Shawnee, Kansas, following a short illness. Born January 17, 1922, on a farm in Rooks County, Kansas, he was the son of Carl E. and Susan Grace (Mayes) Stithem.

In 1940, Dale enlisted in the U.S. Horse Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1942 and assigned to the 113th Mechanized Cavalry Group, with whom he served in combat in Europe during World War II. After the war he transferred to the Army Transportation Corps and during the years 1947 - 1950, served in the occupation of Germany at Heidelberg. During the Korean War he served as Transportation Advisor to a Republic of Korean Army Corps, followed by a tour of duty in Yokohama, Japan. Dale retired from military service in 1960 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

From 1960 to 1970 he engaged in municipal administration serving the cities of Emporia, Kansas and DeSoto and Glendale, Missouri. He was Glendale's first City Administrator. After leaving Glendale, he and his wife Florence lived in Deming, New Mexico, Pocatello, Idaho and Longmont, Colorado. Following his wife's death in 2009, he moved to Shawnee Hills Senior Living in Shawnee, Kansas, to be closer to family.

Dale's hobbies included genealogy, woodworking and gardening. He had life memberships in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the Retired Officers Association.

Dale married Kathleen V. Haggerton Ward on May 4th, 1947 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. They were divorced in 1960. On April 6, 1963 he married Florence L. Bacon Sparks at Emporia, Kansas.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Velda and Evelyn, his brother Kenneth, and his wife Florence.

Mr. Stithem is survived by children Diana D. Stithem and husband John D. Montgomery of Kingman, AZ; son Michael J. Stithem and wife Lori Stithem of Lawence, Kansas; Ron R. Ward and wife Julie Ward of Rochester, Minnesota; Connie Ward Hart and husband Gary Hart of Leawood, Kansas; Sandra L. Sparks Clifton and husband Terry Clifton of Burbank, California; Carolyn K. Sparks Holliday and husband Philip Holliday of Round Hill, Virginia; and Diana L. Sparks Roberts and husband Don Roberts of Farmington, Minnesota; AND 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Inurnment will be at Pleasant View Cemetery, Palco, Kansas, at a later date. Related memorial information will be posted at www.amosfamily.com (The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, 913-631-5566)

The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, http://www.kansascityhospice.org/ 816-363-2600 (9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114).