Edwin "Dale" Inkley

Dale learned some of his most valuable life lessons as a teenager, when he went on several summertime expeditions in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sponsored by Three Corner Round, a pack outfit then operated by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, he and a dozen or more teen boys from Cleveland hiked and camped for the summers, learning to work independently and as a team to traverse the mountains with 60 burros carrying their supplies. Five years ago, he returned to Independence, CA, for the 100th anniversary of Three Corner Round. He carried lifesavers in his pockets in happy anticipation of meeting the burros and giving them a treat. He enjoyed telling stories from those expeditions the rest of his life.

His TCR expeditions further defined his future when he became fast friends with fellow expeditioner Dick Combes. They kept in touch through Dale’s two years in the U.S. Navy and while he earned Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University. When Dick asked Dale to be best man at his wedding, Dale had no idea he would fall in love with the bride’s sister, Pamela Wright. Dale and Pam were married for almost 73 years. They have four children: Jennifer (the late Gil) Trepal of Mason, Ohio; Douglas of Yarrowsburg, Maryland; Katryn (Bruce) Renard of Columbus, Ohio; and Benson, of Portland, Oregon. His grandchild and three great grandchildren will also miss him.

In addition to providing for his family, Dale earned a Master of Science in Engineering Administration from Case Western Reserve University, retired from Republic Steel after 32 years, retired again after 13 years of teaching electricity at Cuyahoga Community College, and then had another 26 years to enjoy gardening and working in his workshop. He was known for excellence in craftsmanship and built a back porch and garage extension on his home. He also extensively remodeled his kitchen. Neighbors on his end of East Farnhurst Road often sought advice on home repair, knowing they would get good advice from him. On the day of their move to Columbus, the neighbors bade a fond farewell to their “Mayor of west East Farnhurst,” an affectionate title he cherished.

Dale told interesting stories from his travels around the globe, his life experiences, and extensive reading of science and business publications. If you asked him about a specific tool, you might have received the entire history of the company that made it. If you showed him a piece of wood or part of an old toy, he’d know exactly where it came from. In the Vermont woods, he could find his way back home by recognizing specific trees, all the while telling you about the geology underfoot.

The family will receive friends at a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024, in the Kinsale Room at Friendship Village of Dublin, 6000 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio, 43017