Dale Grosvenor (1925-2012)

GROSVENOR, ARMSTRONG, SWICK, CAREY

Posted By: Mark Christitan
Date: 11/18/2012 at 17:01:56

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

Dale Grosvenor

BORN: November 22, 1925
DIED: November 7, 2012
LOCATION: Ames, Iowa

Dale Grosvenor was born November 22, 1925 to Burt Vaness and Sarah Mabel (Armstrong) Grosvenor in Dixon, Nebraska. Dale was allowed to start school at the age of 4, even though there wasn't a kindergarten class. Teachers let him complete the 3rd and 4th grades in one year, the sum of all resulting with him graduating Newcastle High School in 194I, at the age of 15. That fall, Dale was a freshman at the University of Nebraska with his 16th birthday not until November.

Dale attended the University of Nebraska until March of 1944, when he was drafted into the United States Navy. He served on a troop transport until July of 1946. After returning to the States, Dale came to Iowa State College for three semesters in the Navy's V12 program. He went on to receive a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1948, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1949, a M.S. in Statistics in 1960, and a PhD. in Statistics in 1963. He served on the faculty at Iowa State in the Statistics Department for one year, and then took a position in mathematics at Oklahoma State as director of the OSU Computer Center. 1968 found him back at Iowa State working a joint appointment between ISU Computation Center and the Department of Computer Science. His international assignments took him overseas to Jakarta, Indonesia, Ibadan, Nigeria, and Lusaka, Zambia. While jogging in Africa in 1983, he was run down and left by the road. He spent two months in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa before returning to the USA.

Dale remained a dedicated jogger and participated in several marathon races, never to win or place, but to prove he could do it. One summer at Oklahoma State he and Don Hotchkiss were on the indoor track under the Iba Arena. Don outpaced him, but tired and started to walk. Dale lapped him not once, but twice, pacing himself for the long-range target ahead. He was a competitive bowler, not with a high average, but always ready for a friendly challenge, especially against his friends in Statistics. He was a member of the Senior Bowling League until his health prevented further participation. He was an excellent bridge player and belonged to several bridge groups.

Dale had many interests, including boating. With Don Hotchkiss he built two WINDMILL sailboats, contributing the precise measurements for them to cut and assemble the boats. Bernie Gerstein officially inspected their boats for competition in numerous races at Big Creek Lake. They won a first place at the opening of Rathbun Lake. Of course, there were only 4 boats in the race that day. President Nixon also visited the lake that day.

Dale was a quiet worker at Collegiate Presbyterian Church where he was a member. Anywhere work was involved you would see Dale. He helped set up tables and chairs for Wednesday night youth meals, helping to clean up afterwards. For many years he was a member of a Bible study group, until his health failed. Dale would find interesting things on the internet to share with the group. Also, he played on the church softball team, amazing because one doesn't expect the oldest guy on the team to have legs strong enough to crouch down and play catcher.
Dale contributed to many organizations in Ames. He was active in the Ames Kiwanis Club, the ISU Planned Giving Council, and the ISU Foundation Board of Governors. He was a long time supporter of YSS, serving eleven years on the YSS Foundation Board of Directors, from 1990 to 2001. At YSS, Dale chaired the Long Range Planning and Nomination Committees.

He loved to golf and was a member of the Siouxland Ski Club. He supported and participated in activities at Heartland Senior Services and Reiman Gardens. Dale and Bill Reinhardt were friends since their V12 years in the Navy at lowa State. The Textile and Clothing Exhibit in the renovated Morrill Hall on campus is dedicated to Bill's first wife, Mary Alice. Beside her wedding dress is a picture of their wedding party and Dale is pictured as a part of the wedding party. Friends from the V12 program continued to meet yearly at an Iowa State football game.

Dale saved everything: just in case he might need the information. This was true not only in his office, but in his apartment. When visiting Dale you would be met at the door and invited to sit in the hall to discuss a particular subject. Dale had all the information at hand when needed

Dale passed away Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Northcrest Community in Ames, Iowa at 86 years of age.

He is survived by his sister, Alice M. Swick of Dixon, Nebraska; his brother, Harold L. Grosvenor of Ponca, Nebraska; his sisters-in-law Joyce Grosvenor of Ponca, and Naomi Grosvenor of Newcastle, Nebraska; his brother-in-law, Thomas A. Carey of Okanogan, Washington; many nieces and nephews; and many dedicated friends.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Burt Vernon Grosvenor and Robert E. Grosvenor; his sister Helen G. Carey; infant triplet siblings, Darrel, Doris, Dorothy; and brother-in-law Melvin C. Swick.

There will be a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Friday, November 16, 2012 at Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames.

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