Dale W. "Shep" Shepherd

Dale William “Shep” Shepherd, age 61, of Ocean Gate, NJ, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2022 at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ. He was born July 28, 1960 in Oklahoma City, OK to the late John Edwin and Norma Louise (Clancy) Shepherd.

He was a graduate of Memorial Christian School in Florida.  After graduation, he proudly served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force during Desert Storm, specializing in strategic aircraft maintenance.  He married his beloved wife Gail Doreen (DeChiara) Shepherd, with whom he would celebrate 36 years of marriage on November 30, 1985. Dale was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and soon-to-be grandpa to baby Robbie.  He was a man of faith, lover of Jesus, and was a member of Shore Life Church, and a former member of Jesus is Lord Fellowship.  Dale also had many hobbies and interests, including watching Nascar, Jeopardy and The Price is Right, and anything aircraft related! A cooking connoisseur, he was famous for his meatloaf and beef stroganoff.

Dale will be remembered for his Big Heart.  This preceded his heart health issues. His genuine love for others was felt by everyone in his presence, for he carried the love of The Father from childhood.  He will also be remembered for his comedic sense of humor, suave radio voice, emcee abilities, voice impersonation talent, and his karaoke go-tos: Mack the Knife and Elvis classics.

In addition to his parents, Dale is preceded in death by his mother-in-law Carol (Twelves) Veltre, and father-in-law Carmine DeChiara.  Surviving are his wife, Gail (DeChiara) Shepherd; daughter, Carmen (Shepherd) Nichols and her husband Robert; son, Kyle Shepherd and his wife Kerston; brother, Charles “Chip” Shepherd and his wife Sharon; two sisters, Jacqueline Fela and her husband Richard, and Kellie Costello and her husband Bruce; sister-in-law Tracy (DeChiara) Burton and her husband Pete; brother-in-law Paul Veltre and his wife Charity; father-in-law Anthony Veltre; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends from his youth to present, and his feet licking grandpups, Buster and Shandy.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a Visitation on Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm, with a service to begin at 7pm, at Horizon Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1329 Route 37 West, Toms River, NJ.

Burial will take place Friday, June 24, 2022, 10am, at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran’s Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in remembrance of Dale to Shore Life Church 370 Nixon Avenue, Bayville, NJ 08721;  Jesus is Lord Fellowship Church 2236 Massachusetts Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08755;  or Deborah Heart and Lung Center.  https://www.deborahfoundation.org/donate/