Dale E. Smeltzer, 84, of Phoenix, Arizona, formerly of Goshen and Wakarusa, died Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Banner Estrella Medical Center, Phoenix, after a short illness.
He was born August 25, 1930 in Wakarusa to Clarence and Mary (Yoder) Smeltzer.
He graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1948. On August 27, 1950 he married Grace Ummel and they later divorced.
On November 22, 1964 he married Daphne (Benson) Cramer and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2006.
Dale owned and operated Miller’s downtown restaurant in Goshen during the 1960’s. After moving to the Detroit, Michigan area in the late 1960’s he worked in the Holiday Inn system. First as a chef in Southfield, Michigan, next as a food and beverage manager in Farmington, Michigan and lastly as general manager in Howell, Michigan. During this time he won many Holiday Inn awards for excellence.
From the 1970’s to the 1990’s Dale bred, raised and trained thoroughbred horses and raced them at Detroit Race Course (DRC). Horse racing was one of his great passions and he had many winning horses, including a Michigan Futurity winner.
He is survived by five children, Caren Smeltzer Portland, Oregon, Berry (Teri) Smeltzer of Goodyear, Arizona, Kathy (Milton) Grant of Goshen, Sandra (Tom) Leabu, Grass Lake, Michigan, Kim (Sue Greave) Cramer of Traverse City, Michiigan; five grandchildren, Bradley Smeltzer, Goodyear, Arizona, Trevor Grant and Lauren Grant, both of Goshen, Elizabeth (Jeff) White of Jackson, Michigan and Richard Goss of Stockbridge, Michigan; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Melba Williams of Wakarusa; two brothers, Clifford (Lois) Smeltzer of Goshen and David (Merrilee) Smeltzer of San Jose, California; a sister-in-law, Judy Smeltzer of Wakarusa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruth Newcomer and Viola Smeltzer; and two brothers, Glenn and Roy Smeltzer.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be conducted Thursday, May 21, 2015,at 2:00 p.m. at Violett Cemetery.
He was born August 25, 1930 in Wakarusa to Clarence and Mary (Yoder) Smeltzer.
He graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1948. On August 27, 1950 he married Grace Ummel and they later divorced.
On November 22, 1964 he married Daphne (Benson) Cramer and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2006.
Dale owned and operated Miller’s downtown restaurant in Goshen during the 1960’s. After moving to the Detroit, Michigan area in the late 1960’s he worked in the Holiday Inn system. First as a chef in Southfield, Michigan, next as a food and beverage manager in Farmington, Michigan and lastly as general manager in Howell, Michigan. During this time he won many Holiday Inn awards for excellence.
From the 1970’s to the 1990’s Dale bred, raised and trained thoroughbred horses and raced them at Detroit Race Course (DRC). Horse racing was one of his great passions and he had many winning horses, including a Michigan Futurity winner.
He is survived by five children, Caren Smeltzer Portland, Oregon, Berry (Teri) Smeltzer of Goodyear, Arizona, Kathy (Milton) Grant of Goshen, Sandra (Tom) Leabu, Grass Lake, Michigan, Kim (Sue Greave) Cramer of Traverse City, Michiigan; five grandchildren, Bradley Smeltzer, Goodyear, Arizona, Trevor Grant and Lauren Grant, both of Goshen, Elizabeth (Jeff) White of Jackson, Michigan and Richard Goss of Stockbridge, Michigan; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Melba Williams of Wakarusa; two brothers, Clifford (Lois) Smeltzer of Goshen and David (Merrilee) Smeltzer of San Jose, California; a sister-in-law, Judy Smeltzer of Wakarusa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruth Newcomer and Viola Smeltzer; and two brothers, Glenn and Roy Smeltzer.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be conducted Thursday, May 21, 2015,at 2:00 p.m. at Violett Cemetery.
Dale E. Smeltzer, 84, of Phoenix, Arizona, formerly of Goshen and Wakarusa, died Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Banner Estrella Medical Center, Phoenix, after a short illness.
He was born August 25, 1930 in Wakarusa to Clarence and Mary (Yoder) Smeltzer.
He graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1948. On August 27, 1950 he married Grace Ummel and they later divorced.
On November 22, 1964 he married Daphne (Benson) Cramer and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2006.
Dale owned and operated Miller’s downtown restaurant in Goshen during the 1960’s. After moving to the Detroit, Michigan area in the late 1960’s he worked in the Holiday Inn system. First as a chef in Southfield, Michigan, next as a food and beverage manager in Farmington, Michigan and lastly as general manager in Howell, Michigan. During this time he won many Holiday Inn awards for excellence.
From the 1970’s to the 1990’s Dale bred, raised and trained thoroughbred horses and raced them at Detroit Race Course (DRC). Horse racing was one of his great passions and he had many winning horses, including a Michigan Futurity winner.
He is survived by five children, Caren Smeltzer Portland, Oregon, Berry (Teri) Smeltzer of Goodyear, Arizona, Kathy (Milton) Grant of Goshen, Sandra (Tom) Leabu, Grass Lake, Michigan, Kim (Sue Greave) Cramer of Traverse City, Michiigan; five grandchildren, Bradley Smeltzer, Goodyear, Arizona, Trevor Grant and Lauren Grant, both of Goshen, Elizabeth (Jeff) White of Jackson, Michigan and Richard Goss of Stockbridge, Michigan; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Melba Williams of Wakarusa; two brothers, Clifford (Lois) Smeltzer of Goshen and David (Merrilee) Smeltzer of San Jose, California; a sister-in-law, Judy Smeltzer of Wakarusa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruth Newcomer and Viola Smeltzer; and two brothers, Glenn and Roy Smeltzer.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be conducted Thursday, May 21, 2015,at 2:00 p.m. at Violett Cemetery.
He was born August 25, 1930 in Wakarusa to Clarence and Mary (Yoder) Smeltzer.
He graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1948. On August 27, 1950 he married Grace Ummel and they later divorced.
On November 22, 1964 he married Daphne (Benson) Cramer and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2006.
Dale owned and operated Miller’s downtown restaurant in Goshen during the 1960’s. After moving to the Detroit, Michigan area in the late 1960’s he worked in the Holiday Inn system. First as a chef in Southfield, Michigan, next as a food and beverage manager in Farmington, Michigan and lastly as general manager in Howell, Michigan. During this time he won many Holiday Inn awards for excellence.
From the 1970’s to the 1990’s Dale bred, raised and trained thoroughbred horses and raced them at Detroit Race Course (DRC). Horse racing was one of his great passions and he had many winning horses, including a Michigan Futurity winner.
He is survived by five children, Caren Smeltzer Portland, Oregon, Berry (Teri) Smeltzer of Goodyear, Arizona, Kathy (Milton) Grant of Goshen, Sandra (Tom) Leabu, Grass Lake, Michigan, Kim (Sue Greave) Cramer of Traverse City, Michiigan; five grandchildren, Bradley Smeltzer, Goodyear, Arizona, Trevor Grant and Lauren Grant, both of Goshen, Elizabeth (Jeff) White of Jackson, Michigan and Richard Goss of Stockbridge, Michigan; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Melba Williams of Wakarusa; two brothers, Clifford (Lois) Smeltzer of Goshen and David (Merrilee) Smeltzer of San Jose, California; a sister-in-law, Judy Smeltzer of Wakarusa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruth Newcomer and Viola Smeltzer; and two brothers, Glenn and Roy Smeltzer.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be conducted Thursday, May 21, 2015,at 2:00 p.m. at Violett Cemetery.
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