Dale M. Barnard

He was born in Meadville, PA on November 5, 1924 to the late Harry and Emma (Boners) Barnard. In January 1943, during his senior year at Meadville High School he enlisted in the Navy, and received his diploma during his military service. He graduated from the Ford Trade School in Dearborn, Michigan as a Machinist Mate – which was part of his initial Navy training and served as Machinist Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Zaurak from 1943 until 1945. Dale saw action in five major battles in the Pacific Theater under Bull Halsey’s 58th task force including: Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan, Tinian and Leyte and Leyte Gulf and was decorated with three bronze stars.

After the war ended he was employed at Talon Corporation in Meadville where he obtained his tool and die maker apprenticeship. He was then employed at Canto Tool in Meadville, as well as GTI Corporation in Saegertown, PA where he was Manager of Engineering and Tooling. During this time he attended Penn State pursuing management training.

He lived for a time in Michigan where he was Leader of Automation Programs for RCA in Livonia, Michigan. In 1970 he accepted a position at Judson L. Thomson Fastening Systems in Waltham as Engineering Manager and stayed in this position for six years. He was then employed for fifteen years as Plant Manager at Townsend Fastening Systems of Textron in Braintree, MA. He was last employed as Vice President of Engineering at Pneumatic Scale in Quincy, MA where he retired in 1993. He summered on the Cape for many years before moving to Monument Beach permanently in 1999.

Dale was an avid sailor and spent many happy hours sailing the Buzzards Bay area in his pride and joy, Serenade. He was an accomplished woodworker and loved building reproduction furniture. He also loved gardening and took special pride in his yard and gardens. He was a person of many talents and always had a project of some sort in the works. His dream had always been to retire to the Cape where he could swim, clam, bike and enjoy the four seasons of the Cape, each one special to him. He especially loved spending time with his family and friends.

He spent many years as an instructor of the VNA’s Young at Heart program in Falmouth and Sandwich Senior Centers, an activity he enjoyed immensely as he enjoyed being with people and loved helping others stay fit and active. He always told them that age was just a number.

He was a life member of BPOE No. 219 Meadville, Pennsylvania Elks.

Besides his wife Sandra, he leaves five children: Leslie Barnard Sargis and her husband Kevin, Dale Barnard and his wife Karen, Karen Powell and her husband Steve, Jeff Barnard and his wife, Tina, and Kelly LaBruzzo and her husband John; 11 grandchildren: Kyle, Kelsey, Madison and Colin Sargis, Shelly Walker, Brian, Kevin and Clinton Chess, Misty Mawn and her husband Kevin, Nicole and Brianna LaBruzzo; 8 great-grandchildren and his sister, Norma Mesarch and her husband Walter, of Youngstown, Ohio.

He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Cristy Miller, his brothers, Lloyd Barnard of Florida and O.C. Barnard of Meadville and a sister, Fayetta Larsen of New Brunswick, Canada.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011 in the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd. in Bourne. Services in the funeral home will begin at 11:30 am on Monday with burial following in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Bourne Friends Food Pantry, 239 Main St., Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 or the Falmouth Senior Center Outreach Fund, 300 Dillingham Ave., E. Falmouth, MA 02540.