Dale Graves

Dale Miron Graves, born in Fort Wayne on March 12, 1928, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2023. Dale was a lifelong resident of Fort Wayne. Dale honorable served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a reliable and talented printer technician at Allen Business Machine before his retirement in 1993. Throughout his life, Dale was known for his creative problem-solving skills, a talent he also applied to his passion for writing poems. He was a lover of classic country music and gospel TV programs. Dale was a dedicated food enthusiast and cherished every opportunity to dine out. Dale was a man of deep faith, a trait that guided him throughout his life. His love for his pets was profound, and their companionship gave him immense comfort and joy. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Dale embodied these virtues and made a significant impact on those around him with his dedication and reliability. Dale is survived by his loving wife, Rickie Graves, with whom he shared a blissful marital journey since September 10, 1989; his stepsons, Marty Robison and Anthony Hoekstra. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Elsie Graves; stepson, Roger Robison; his five sisters, Ethel, Edith, Garnet, Virginia, Norma Jean, and Gladys. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco Chapel, with calling beginning at 4:00 p.m. Burial with Military Honors will take place at Eel River Cemetery, on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Memorials may be directed to Tunnel to Towers or Samaritans Purse. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home has been entrusted with these arrangements.