Dale A. Rigdon III, 75, of Warsaw, peacefully met his Lord and Savior at 5:33 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2021, while surrounded by his loving family.
Dale was ushered into heaven as the hymn, “When The Roll Call Is Called Up Yonder,” was playing in the background.
He was born Jan. 26, 1946, in Warsaw, to Dale Jr. and Charline Newlon Rigdon. He met Gloria J. Warrick on a blind date on Oct. 10, 1964, eventually marrying her on July 15, 1967. Together, they shared 53 years and nine months together.
Dale graduated from Warsaw High School in 1964 and attended both Vincennes University and IUPU of Fort Wayne. He worked as an operating room technician for Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne before working for DePuy, retiring after 37 years of dedicated employment.
Dale was honorably discharged from the United States Navy, where he served during Vietnam as a Corpsman on the New Jersey Battleship.
Dale was a devoted follower of Jesus and was a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and Warsaw Wesleyan, where he was a member for 26 years. He was active in disciple groups, the Helping Hands Ministry Soup Kitchen and went on two mission trips to Haiti.
He enjoyed fishing, boating, collecting coins, stamps and listening to music, especially the oldies from the 60s and 70s. He had a one-of-a-kind sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Most of all, Dale cherished spending time with family and friends.
Dale is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gloria; two daughters, Christine (Dennis) Jameson, of Arkansas; and Sarah (Tim) Frame, of Warsaw; three grandchildren: Brett Stephens, Landon Frame and Brennen Frame; a sister, Renee (Ron) Holt, of South Carolina; and niece, Kathleen (Johnnie) Howard, of New York.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Dale’s life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 22 at Living Hope Ministries, 595 E. CR 350N, Warsaw. Pastor Hedgel Perry will be officiating the service. Military honors presented by the United States Navy will follow the celebration of life. A memorial visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until the time of service. Arrangements were entrusted to Heritage Funeral and Cremation Services, Warsaw.
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Donations in honor of Dale may be given to The Alzheimer’s Association, The Wounded Warriors Project or Samaritans Purse. Envelopes will be available at the service.
Online condolences may be left at www.heritage-fcs.com.
