Dale L. Maloney

Dale L. Maloney, 84, of Port Orange, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his closest friends and family. Dale was born in Connersville, Indiana, on October 12, 1940. He was the youngest of ten children raised by Mollie and Taylor, a hardworking couple with strong Irish roots. The Maloneys owned a grocery store in Cambridge City, Indiana, where Dale worked as a young child. Dale also worked delivering newspapers and mowing lawns to make extra money, and he learned a strong work ethic that he kept solid throughout his entire life. At age 15, Dale and his family relocated to Orlando, Florida, where he finished his high school years at Boone High School. He graduated from Boone in 1958. In 1964, Dale moved to Dallas, Texas, to attend mortuary school at Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science. He graduated in mortuary science and then returned to Florida to take care of his ailing parents. Dale worked for several funeral homes in Miami, Florida, where he spent many fun years with his nephew, close friend, and fellow funeral director, Ralph Maloney. Dale relocated to Orlando during the final years of his parents’ lives and cared for them at the end. He worked for Carey-Hand Funeral Home during that time. While living in Orlando, he met the beautiful and kind southern belle, Judith Nickels. He became engaged to Judy and they married in December of 1971. Dale and Judy relocated to Daytona Beach, where he used his talents as a funeral director at Baggett & Summers Funeral Home. He was given the opportunity to open his own business, and in 1977, he opened the doors to Dale Maloney Funeral Home in Port Orange. With the help of his wife Judy, he was able to run his business successfully for the next 44 years. Dale and Judy were members of the Port Orange Presbyterian Church since 1987. In 1981, Dale and Judy adopted a baby girl whom they named Shannon. After a few business-related changes, he proudly renamed the funeral home after his daughter in the mid 2000s. Dale was in the office almost every day working hard at Shannon Maloney Funeral Home until finally closing its doors in 2022, when he retired at the age of 82. Dale took the greatest pride in being a phenomenal funeral director and caring for the public in an honorable and compassionate way. He loved spending time with his “grand-dogs” over the years, and he experienced great joy in spending time with those dogs by his swimming pool. He was also an amazing uncle to lots of nieces and nephews who remembered him as the “cool uncle with a 1957 Pontiac GTO.” Dale loved his daughter Shannon dearly and he was comforted and cared for by her at the end of his life until his last breath. He is pre-deceased by his beloved nephew Ralph Maloney, his parents Mollie and Taylor, and all nine of his siblings: Taylor Jr., Nimmie, Harold, Paul, Virginia, Agnes, Syvilla, Hazel, and Joan. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Judy, his beloved daughter Shannon, his “grand-dog” Peewee, many loving nieces and nephews, and several wonderful lifelong friends.

Visitation hours and a viewing will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home in Port Orange, from 6 pm to 8 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 am on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home in Port Orange, officiated by Rev. Dr. Calvin Gittner. A luncheon will be held after the service followed by interment at Sea Pines Memorial Gardens in Edgewater, Florida, for those who would like to attend.