Dale Roger Dolby

Dale Roger Dolby, 86, passed away Wednesday July 26, 2023, at his home in Fort Wayne, IN. He was born January 24, 1937, in Bluffton, IN, the son of the late Claude and Wilma Dolby. Dale was a 1955 graduate from Rockcreek High School, Wells County, IN. He became owner of W.C. Grant Company Inc. in Fort Wayne in 1977 and retired in 1998.

Dale was very active in his life, engaging in sports and pleasure activities such as go-kart racing, boating, water skiing, sailing, motorcycling, and flying. He had close to 5000 flying hours. Dale loved driving an Indy car and a Nascar around their tracks, he did a dual jump for skydiving, then parasailing, and a Zero G experience. He visited many parts of the U.S. and the world while on business and pleasure. He has been involved with many organizations, such as the Shriners, C.A.F., Bluffton Masonic Lodge and Quiet Birdmen. Dale’s one wish was to build a home in the country, his dream came true in 1998. He loved having parties of all kinds in their Party Barn with family and friends for many years.

Dale loved spending winters in Florida. He would say. “No more Indiana winters of cold and shoveling snow” and he got to eat all the seafood he wanted. He enjoyed spending time with his friends at North County Airport and his Saturday lunch date with his friends at Indiantown, Fl. He especially liked it when Denny would say you drive (his Tesla). He enjoyed spending time at the pool for a little fun in the sun and time with his Florida friends going out to eat and multiple concerts indoors and out and Thursday Game Night.

When the month of May came around, he was ready to come home and play Euchre with Family and Friends. Two of his famous sayings to his partner was “all you have to do is get three tricks, or cheat if you have to so we can win.” (Cheat Joe Cheat). Dale enjoyed watching the kids play sports of all kinds, and he loved the time he spent with family near and far away.

Dale was a good father, grandfather and great grandfather and a wonderful husband. We enjoyed every minute of life together and he will be missed by everyone that walked in his path. As he would say, like the song of Frank Sinatra “I did it my way”. My heart is broken, and he is gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Dale is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Marie Dolby. His children: Becky (Joe Merchant) Rogers, Kaye Inniger both of Fort Wayne, IN; Lee (Karen) Dolby of Kernersville, NC: Curtis Dolby of Largo, FL; stepson Michael (Tonya) Holcomb of Kimmell, IN; sister, Janet Roberts of Fort Wayne, IN; 15 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandson and 1 proxy granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Jana Smock.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday August 5, 2023, at D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home 1320 E. Dupont Road Fort Wayne, IN with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 2-4 & 6-8 pm Friday August 4, 2023, at the funeral home. A Facebook livestream of the service will be available 5 minutes before the service starts. You can watch by visiting https://www.facebook.com/DOMcCombPineValley.

Private burial at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cancer Services of NE Indiana or Donor’s Choice. To sign the online guestbook go to www.mccombandsons.com