Dell E Lake was born May 6, 1919 in Warren, Utah to Ora L Lake and Laura Wayment Rose Lake. He was the second youngest of what was to be a melded family of 13 children. He was the last surviving sibling. His father's family arrived from England in 1634. They made their way from Vermont to Indiana to Utah. His mother's family were Mormon converts, arriving from England in the 1800s.
They were a family of farmers and ranchers. He used to tell the story of his father scattering feed to spell out Lake so that the chickens formed the name while they ate. They struggled financially and Dell worked for sheep herders at a young age as the cook's assistant. Dell worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps and then the railroad.
January 17, 1938, he joined the United States Navy. The story goes he left Utah during a blizzard and arrived at the San Diego Santa Fe Depot with the sun shining and flowers blooming. He said he had shoveled his last shovel full of snow.
His first ship was the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier based out of Norfolk, Virginia. A shipmate was dating a girl who had a cousin, Stella Doukas. They met in 1940 but the intervening events of Pearl Harbor kept them from marrying until February 26, 1945.
Dell reached Pearl Harbor December 24, 1941 with 3000 men on the "regular" Navy, on the USS Harris, Salvage Company #2. He said to a man they were on the line and there was not a sound. He spent the next 18 months helping to raise the ships and return them to duty.
He served in the South Pacific, also on the USS Bushnell, a submarine tender. The description was tedium to 24/7 work to get a submarine back to duty. They were stationed off a small island. How small? He always said the "outfielders were up to their knees in water." It was on the Bushnell he made Chief. On minesweeper service he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy that saved lives.
He sent a letter to Stella telling her it would be a good time to visit her Uncle Milton. That was the best way he could tell her to go to San Francisco. He brought a complement of men back from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, convincing the Captain of an aircraft carrier to let them stay on decks as there was no accommodation for them.
He had a small dated book he carried. A man of few words. February 25, 1945, arrive San Francisco. February 26, 1945, married Stella. There was no wedding cake, no honeymoon. He was in Bermuda when their daughter Valerie was born, and Greenland when their son Craig was born.
They settled in Lemon Grove, buying their home in 1948. It was the home he spent his last hours. He retired from the Navy January, 1958 and went to work for the Lemon Grove School District. He took care of the buses, all electrical issues, and built the first computer labs. He started his business and worked for the school district during the day and at his business at night.
During late 1940's he and Stella started square dancing, a past time they would continue until her death. Dell also became a square dance caller and round dance teacher. It was a time for good friends, pot lucks, and family get together.
Dell loved his City of Lemon Grove and worked in many ways to make a difference and contribute to its development. He sat on the Lemon Grove Fire District, worked tirelessly for Old Time's Days Celebrations, was active in Kiwanis and he always believed in service. He was the chairman of the incorporation committee to help Lemon Grove become a city. He served on LAFCO. He was elected and served on the first City Council of Lemon Grove.
Dell and Stella had a fairy tale romance that lasted past his losing her in 1999. It wasn't because they never fought, it was because the arguments didn't matter. They walked holding hands, he held her purse when arthritis made carrying it difficult. They were able to holiday in Hawaii, go on cruises, and travel in their motor home. They especially enjoyed camping on the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona with their grandchildren, often meeting up with his brothers from Utah.
He was a man of few words, a man of integrity, a man of honor. And he will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and by all who knew him.
They were a family of farmers and ranchers. He used to tell the story of his father scattering feed to spell out Lake so that the chickens formed the name while they ate. They struggled financially and Dell worked for sheep herders at a young age as the cook's assistant. Dell worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps and then the railroad.
January 17, 1938, he joined the United States Navy. The story goes he left Utah during a blizzard and arrived at the San Diego Santa Fe Depot with the sun shining and flowers blooming. He said he had shoveled his last shovel full of snow.
His first ship was the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier based out of Norfolk, Virginia. A shipmate was dating a girl who had a cousin, Stella Doukas. They met in 1940 but the intervening events of Pearl Harbor kept them from marrying until February 26, 1945.
Dell reached Pearl Harbor December 24, 1941 with 3000 men on the "regular" Navy, on the USS Harris, Salvage Company #2. He said to a man they were on the line and there was not a sound. He spent the next 18 months helping to raise the ships and return them to duty.
He served in the South Pacific, also on the USS Bushnell, a submarine tender. The description was tedium to 24/7 work to get a submarine back to duty. They were stationed off a small island. How small? He always said the "outfielders were up to their knees in water." It was on the Bushnell he made Chief. On minesweeper service he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy that saved lives.
He sent a letter to Stella telling her it would be a good time to visit her Uncle Milton. That was the best way he could tell her to go to San Francisco. He brought a complement of men back from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, convincing the Captain of an aircraft carrier to let them stay on decks as there was no accommodation for them.
He had a small dated book he carried. A man of few words. February 25, 1945, arrive San Francisco. February 26, 1945, married Stella. There was no wedding cake, no honeymoon. He was in Bermuda when their daughter Valerie was born, and Greenland when their son Craig was born.
They settled in Lemon Grove, buying their home in 1948. It was the home he spent his last hours. He retired from the Navy January, 1958 and went to work for the Lemon Grove School District. He took care of the buses, all electrical issues, and built the first computer labs. He started his business and worked for the school district during the day and at his business at night.
During late 1940's he and Stella started square dancing, a past time they would continue until her death. Dell also became a square dance caller and round dance teacher. It was a time for good friends, pot lucks, and family get together.
Dell loved his City of Lemon Grove and worked in many ways to make a difference and contribute to its development. He sat on the Lemon Grove Fire District, worked tirelessly for Old Time's Days Celebrations, was active in Kiwanis and he always believed in service. He was the chairman of the incorporation committee to help Lemon Grove become a city. He served on LAFCO. He was elected and served on the first City Council of Lemon Grove.
Dell and Stella had a fairy tale romance that lasted past his losing her in 1999. It wasn't because they never fought, it was because the arguments didn't matter. They walked holding hands, he held her purse when arthritis made carrying it difficult. They were able to holiday in Hawaii, go on cruises, and travel in their motor home. They especially enjoyed camping on the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona with their grandchildren, often meeting up with his brothers from Utah.
He was a man of few words, a man of integrity, a man of honor. And he will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and by all who knew him.
Dell E Lake was born May 6, 1919 in Warren, Utah to Ora L Lake and Laura Wayment Rose Lake. He was the second youngest of what was to be a melded family of 13 children. He was the last surviving sibling. His father's family arrived from England in 1634. They made their way from Vermont to Indiana to Utah. His mother's family were Mormon converts, arriving from England in the 1800s.
They were a family of farmers and ranchers. He used to tell the story of his father scattering feed to spell out Lake so that the chickens formed the name while they ate. They struggled financially and Dell worked for sheep herders at a young age as the cook's assistant. Dell worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps and then the railroad.
January 17, 1938, he joined the United States Navy. The story goes he left Utah during a blizzard and arrived at the San Diego Santa Fe Depot with the sun shining and flowers blooming. He said he had shoveled his last shovel full of snow.
His first ship was the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier based out of Norfolk, Virginia. A shipmate was dating a girl who had a cousin, Stella Doukas. They met in 1940 but the intervening events of Pearl Harbor kept them from marrying until February 26, 1945.
Dell reached Pearl Harbor December 24, 1941 with 3000 men on the "regular" Navy, on the USS Harris, Salvage Company #2. He said to a man they were on the line and there was not a sound. He spent the next 18 months helping to raise the ships and return them to duty.
He served in the South Pacific, also on the USS Bushnell, a submarine tender. The description was tedium to 24/7 work to get a submarine back to duty. They were stationed off a small island. How small? He always said the "outfielders were up to their knees in water." It was on the Bushnell he made Chief. On minesweeper service he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy that saved lives.
He sent a letter to Stella telling her it would be a good time to visit her Uncle Milton. That was the best way he could tell her to go to San Francisco. He brought a complement of men back from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, convincing the Captain of an aircraft carrier to let them stay on decks as there was no accommodation for them.
He had a small dated book he carried. A man of few words. February 25, 1945, arrive San Francisco. February 26, 1945, married Stella. There was no wedding cake, no honeymoon. He was in Bermuda when their daughter Valerie was born, and Greenland when their son Craig was born.
They settled in Lemon Grove, buying their home in 1948. It was the home he spent his last hours. He retired from the Navy January, 1958 and went to work for the Lemon Grove School District. He took care of the buses, all electrical issues, and built the first computer labs. He started his business and worked for the school district during the day and at his business at night.
During late 1940's he and Stella started square dancing, a past time they would continue until her death. Dell also became a square dance caller and round dance teacher. It was a time for good friends, pot lucks, and family get together.
Dell loved his City of Lemon Grove and worked in many ways to make a difference and contribute to its development. He sat on the Lemon Grove Fire District, worked tirelessly for Old Time's Days Celebrations, was active in Kiwanis and he always believed in service. He was the chairman of the incorporation committee to help Lemon Grove become a city. He served on LAFCO. He was elected and served on the first City Council of Lemon Grove.
Dell and Stella had a fairy tale romance that lasted past his losing her in 1999. It wasn't because they never fought, it was because the arguments didn't matter. They walked holding hands, he held her purse when arthritis made carrying it difficult. They were able to holiday in Hawaii, go on cruises, and travel in their motor home. They especially enjoyed camping on the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona with their grandchildren, often meeting up with his brothers from Utah.
He was a man of few words, a man of integrity, a man of honor. And he will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and by all who knew him.
They were a family of farmers and ranchers. He used to tell the story of his father scattering feed to spell out Lake so that the chickens formed the name while they ate. They struggled financially and Dell worked for sheep herders at a young age as the cook's assistant. Dell worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps and then the railroad.
January 17, 1938, he joined the United States Navy. The story goes he left Utah during a blizzard and arrived at the San Diego Santa Fe Depot with the sun shining and flowers blooming. He said he had shoveled his last shovel full of snow.
His first ship was the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier based out of Norfolk, Virginia. A shipmate was dating a girl who had a cousin, Stella Doukas. They met in 1940 but the intervening events of Pearl Harbor kept them from marrying until February 26, 1945.
Dell reached Pearl Harbor December 24, 1941 with 3000 men on the "regular" Navy, on the USS Harris, Salvage Company #2. He said to a man they were on the line and there was not a sound. He spent the next 18 months helping to raise the ships and return them to duty.
He served in the South Pacific, also on the USS Bushnell, a submarine tender. The description was tedium to 24/7 work to get a submarine back to duty. They were stationed off a small island. How small? He always said the "outfielders were up to their knees in water." It was on the Bushnell he made Chief. On minesweeper service he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy that saved lives.
He sent a letter to Stella telling her it would be a good time to visit her Uncle Milton. That was the best way he could tell her to go to San Francisco. He brought a complement of men back from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, convincing the Captain of an aircraft carrier to let them stay on decks as there was no accommodation for them.
He had a small dated book he carried. A man of few words. February 25, 1945, arrive San Francisco. February 26, 1945, married Stella. There was no wedding cake, no honeymoon. He was in Bermuda when their daughter Valerie was born, and Greenland when their son Craig was born.
They settled in Lemon Grove, buying their home in 1948. It was the home he spent his last hours. He retired from the Navy January, 1958 and went to work for the Lemon Grove School District. He took care of the buses, all electrical issues, and built the first computer labs. He started his business and worked for the school district during the day and at his business at night.
During late 1940's he and Stella started square dancing, a past time they would continue until her death. Dell also became a square dance caller and round dance teacher. It was a time for good friends, pot lucks, and family get together.
Dell loved his City of Lemon Grove and worked in many ways to make a difference and contribute to its development. He sat on the Lemon Grove Fire District, worked tirelessly for Old Time's Days Celebrations, was active in Kiwanis and he always believed in service. He was the chairman of the incorporation committee to help Lemon Grove become a city. He served on LAFCO. He was elected and served on the first City Council of Lemon Grove.
Dell and Stella had a fairy tale romance that lasted past his losing her in 1999. It wasn't because they never fought, it was because the arguments didn't matter. They walked holding hands, he held her purse when arthritis made carrying it difficult. They were able to holiday in Hawaii, go on cruises, and travel in their motor home. They especially enjoyed camping on the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona with their grandchildren, often meeting up with his brothers from Utah.
He was a man of few words, a man of integrity, a man of honor. And he will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and by all who knew him.
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