McDaniel, Alta Wildene

MCDANIEL, DALE, SMITH

Posted By: Conni McDaniel Hall (email)
Date: 2/17/2019 at 16:16:50

Alta Wildene McDaniel, daughter of John Everett and Nancy Ann (Smith) Dale, was born in a Decatur County, Iowa farmhouse north of Davis City on May 17, 1924. She passed from this life on February 11, 2019, at the age of 94 years 8 months and 25 days. She was the seventh child and fourth daughter of the couple’s eight children. She spent her entire life living in the state of Iowa.

Alta grew up on a farm attending grade school in one room country schools, Boothtown, Scratch Eye, Oak Seminary, and back to Boothtown, where grades kindergarten through eighth were taught by one teacher. She did odd jobs for the neighbors through the summer months and sold magazine subscriptions for a little spending money, walking everywhere she went, besides helping at home.

She spent her freshman and sophomore years at Pleasanton High School. Then moved to Humeston with her parents where she spent her junior and senior years, graduating in 1942. She was in both her junior and senior class plays, walking two and a half miles to and from school. After graduation she was employed in Des Moines, Iowa.

Alta made her commitment to the Lord and was baptized into the Baptist Church in Humeston in 1944. She continued working in Des Moines until her marriage to Benjamin Russell McDaniel on June 26, 1949. To this union, four children were born, Maurice, Martha, Maurita, and Myron. They owned and operated a farm south of Davis City, working together in the fields, canning, gardening, choring, or in the house, as long as time permitted.

On Easter Morning of 1951, Alta became a member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ where she served faithfully many years, being youth leader 12 years, social chairman three years, and taught a pre-baptismal class, a junior high Sunday school class, helped with Bible school, and church reunions for many, many years. She was accused one year of standing outside the church and inviting the children that passed by to come inside and enjoy Bible school. She enjoyed discussing the scriptures and trying to interest others. She volunteered many years on the American Heart Fund, Red Cross, and Cancer drive, also on Human Services Committee in Leon, Iowa and the election board in New Buda Township several years plus the school election board in Lamoni.

After the children were grown, Alta found many things to do and kept busy. She crocheted all the children and grandchildren an afghan, plus made a comforter and pieced a quilt for each one. She also made all the great grandchildren a cushion and small blanket.

Alta enjoyed saying or doing something to bring a smile to others. She liked playing ball and sledding down hills, until 90 years of age, and playing inside games such as cards, checkers, and the like. She went deer hunting with her husband and sons. She kept scrapbooks of Davis City, Lamoni, and Decatur County. Also, she made photo albums for all her children to include several generations of family. She enjoyed writing poetry, often creating music to accompany them. She enjoyed playing her guitar, organ, and harmonica.
She also enjoyed making small handcrafts for birthdays, Christmas gifts, and entering things in the county fair. Sometimes she gave a potholder, dishcloth, or something hand made to people that came to visit her.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Everett and Ann Dale; husband, Bennie on September 13, 2013; daughter, Maurita McDaniel; four brothers, DeLos, Charles, Junior, and Hugh Dale; three sisters, Irene Ellis Merical, Glenda Crawford Hill, and Velda Spencer; one sister-in-law, Hallie Dale; five brothers-in-law, Bill Ellis, Lester Merical, Howard Crawford, Maurice Hill, and Erven Spencer; two nieces, Joyce Ellen Spencer and Donna Kasper and husband Don; nephew, Wayne Ellis; great nephew Howard Curtis Crawford; and great, great nephew, Cody Trembly.

Leaving to mourn her passing are her children, Maurice and Regina McDaniel of Pleasanton, Kansas, Martha and Danny Palmer of Van Wert, Iowa, and Myron and Sundi McDaniel of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Della Dale of Caldwell, Idaho; nieces and nephews; cousins; and many friends.
Alta was a devoted wife and loving mother and a kind friend to all who knew her, always looking on the bright side and enjoying life. She’ll be missed by all who came in contact with her.

Source: Funeral folder