Dale Alan Holbert

Dale Alan Holbert, 94, of Pensacola, Florida died peacefully on Sunday, November 4, 2018. He was born on August 28, 1924 in East Chicago, Indiana to Harry and Lucille (Ruckman) Holbert. He married the love of his life Lucille Kane on December 3, 1948 in Pensacola. Dale attended Dewey High School in Oklahoma and then graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1942. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a cadet in the V-5 program and was designated a naval aviator on August 22, 1944. He served in the Naval Reserve until 1955. He was accepted into an accelerated MBA program and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1951. Dale began his career with United Airlines in Chicago in 1951. Over the years, he flew the Douglas DC-3, DC-6 & DC-7, Convair 240, 340 & 440, Caravelle, Boeing 727 and retired as a 747 Captain in Pensacola in 1984. Dale loved pheasant hunting with his beloved Vizsla Borka. He was an avid golfer and voracious reader. He served as President of Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola and was heavily involved in the Pensacola Area Flight Watch (PAFW). His passion for aviation led him to work tirelessly with this dedicated group of aviators to see the vision of the Chappie James Aviation Discovery Park, www.cityofpensacola.com, adjacent to the airport, come to fruition in 2006. A trip to the Discovery Park or the Naval Aviation Museum with Dale was a treat when family visited. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry C. and Lucille N. Holbert and his son Brian D. Holbert. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Lucille; his children, Craig (Patricia Barry), Kathleen Colbert, Marcia (Roger “Pirate”) Brink, Dale (O Sun Jeannie) Holbert, Scott (Darlene) Holbert, Julie (Sean) Ahern, and Mark Holbert; 13 grandchildren, Kyle (Steve) Girdley, Chae (Sean) Kyle, Lucky (Chris) Fraley, Rusty (John) McDonald, Gavin (Danielle) Brink, Stephanie (Chris) Van Roten, Kasey (Saad) Saeed, Trevor (Julia) Holbert, James Ahern, Claire Ahern, Sarah Holbert, Michael Ahern, Jacob Holbert; 11 great grandchildren, Victoria Chon, Tanis Kyle, Parker Girdley, Raegan Girdley, Noah Van Roten, Trip Fraley, Oliver Holbert, Warren Holbert, Trinity McDonald, Tilli Fraley and Zakary Saeed. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Frank Greskovich for over 25 years of care, Baptist Home Health Care and Covenant Care. Immense gratitude also goes to Dale’s daughter Kathy for her compassionate care, allowing him to remain at home during his struggles with illnesses. Family and friends are invited to share memories of Dale at a celebration of life with visitation at 12:30 pm, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South located at 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL. Internment will follow the ceremony at Holy Cross Cemetery located at 1300 E. Hayes St., Pensacola, FL. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Dale A. Holbert to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation www.navalaviationfoundation.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org

Tributes

Dale Alan Holbert

August 28, 1924 - November 4, 2018