Dale Ralph Akeman

Dale Ralph Akeman, son of the late Charles Arther and Bertha Elizabeth (Sutton) Akeman, was born on June 7, 1923 in Bado, Missouri, and passed away on February 20, 2014 in the Mount Vernon Veteran’s Home in Mount Vernon, Missouri. He was 90 years, 8 months and 13 days of age.
Dale was raised in the Mtn. Grove, Missouri area and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1941. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the South Pacific. He served from July 29, 1944 to August 20, 1946. He received several awards and decorations, which included a Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with One Bronze Battle Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with One Bronze Battle Star, Two Overseas Service Bars and an Army of Occupation Medal Japan.
Following his discharge, he was united in marriage to Willa Mae Davis on December 24, 1947. One daughter was born to this union. They moved to Independence, Missouri, where Dale began working in the heating and air business. He soon took over the care and maintenance of heating and air for the Federal Court House in Kansas City. He later started his own heating and air business.
Dale loved to be outdoors, especially when bird hunting and fly fishing.
Following the passing of his wife in 1994, he was a volunteer for the Kansas City Veteran’s Hospital, which he did for many years. In March of 2012, Dale moved to the Mount Vernon Veteran’s Home where he was living at the time of his passing. He enjoyed visiting with his many friends at the home.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter: Debra Dale Akeman in 1999; two brothers: Gus and Raymond; and by two sisters: Charlenea and Maxine.
He is survived by one grandson: Clinton Zeller and his wife, Amber, of Peel, Arkansas; and by one sister: Thelma Cochran of Gonzales, Louisiana; and other relatives and friends.