Dale Douglas Hayes

Dale was born January 21, 1936 in Salt Lake City to Charles Hayes and Evelyn Runsted Hayes.

Dale was a lifelong learner who was singularly happy to explore new technologies, concepts and opportunities. He earned an associate degree in arts and sciences from New Mexico State University and attended the University of Utah. Always fascinated by technology, over the years he received training and certifications from the Radio Institute in Salt Lake City and from Tektronix Inc. in Beaverton, Ore where he studied basic electronics, radio, television and transmitters; from Hewlett-Packard where he studied spectrum analyzers and microwave techniques; and from Utah Technical College, where he learned about solid state analog circuitry, digital electronics and microprocessors.

At his core, though, Dale loved exploring the outdoors with his family. He married Charlene Barnes on September 10, 1956, and they had three children: Curtis, Cynthia and Corinne. He was a dad who supported his kids’ interests and activities, happily coaching baseball, basketball and serving as a Scoutmaster. He was open to adventure and took his family with him when his work took him to the Philippines for 21 months in the late ‘60s. Dale and Charlene treasured that adventure with their then-young brood.

Dale spent most of his career with Dynalectron in various locations, including New Mexico, a state that he dearly loved. He worked, lived and played in New Mexico from 1962 to 1976 except for the time in the Philippines. Later, Dale and Charlene would choose to retire to their beloved “Land of Enchantment.” He also worked for General Dynamics in Ft. Worth, Texas, before returning to Utah when Charlene’s parents were becoming frail. Back in Salt Lake, he worked for Montek until he and Charlene decided to be their own bosses and opened a trophy and ribbon business they called Triangle Trophy. They ran it for many years, moving to bigger and better locations as the business grew and they eventually expanded into a wholesale trophy and ribbon business. Dale closed the retail business in 1994 when Charlene needed heart surgery and they decided to cut back on work and enjoy life more. They retired to Silver City, New Mexico, in 1999, and opened a small trophy business they could run part-time.

Dale’s passions included long walks with his beloved whippet, Sara, playing ping-pong and discussing interesting facts he found in National Geographic. He and Charlene also loved family history and spent a lot of time researching genealogy together. Charlene died in 2016.

After her death, Dale reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Erma Hales, whose husband had also recently passed. They supported each other as they worked through the loss of their spouses. They married in February 2018. Dale and Erma visited Bryce Canyon and many other southwest sites during their travels between Utah and New Mexico. He gained a new family that was very loving and supportive.

Dale is survived by his wife, Erma Hales, son, Curtis Hayes, of Gallup, N.M.; daughters Cynthia (Brian) Lundy of Sandy, UT, and Corinne Greenwood of Layton, UT, Kelly(Vicky) Hales of West Valley City, Joseph Hales of West Valley City ,and Tammy(Jan) Carranza of West Valley City, as well as grandchildren Christopher (Jen) Greenwood, Carson Greenwood, Cedric Hayes, Holly Hayes, Kiera Lundy, Ryan Lundy , Cameron Lundy and many loving grandchildren from his new family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Charlene, Charles Greenwood, Erika Hayes and Elliott Lundy.

We love you, Dad, and hope you’re on a great, long hike.

The family will hold a graveside service at 11:30 am on Monday August 29th at Valley View Memorial Park.