Dale Richard Chambliss

Dale Richard Chambliss, resident of Houston, passed away at home Tuesday the 16th of January 2024. Dale was born in Flora, Illinois on the 30th of July 1933, the son of Velma (McKibbon) and Glenn Chambliss.

Dale received his BS Degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Illinois in 1955 where he was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. In pursuit of his lifelong dream of flying, Dale then entered the US Air Force in 1956 and served in jet fighter and experimental test pilot squadrons. He joined the ranks of the ‘Mach Buster’ F-100 Super Sabre pilots who broke the speed of sound and earned the rank of captain before an honorable discharge in 1961. Dale joined the business world in the Chicago area as an engineer and manager with International Harvester Company. He worked as a management consultant with Booz & Associates, and during this time he earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1968. Then in 1969 Dale stepped in as Executive Vice President and CEO of the financially-distressed Holgar Inc. in Philadelphia PA. Dale guided the acquisition of Holgar, and in 1970, he started American VM Inc., the North American importer of a line of innovative Italian diesel engines. He pioneered the product line and built the distribution organization in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Dale moved the company to Houston TX in 1982, where he continued to serve as president and owner until 1996. After selling VM to Penske/Detroit Diesel Corporation, at the request of the new owners, Dale formed EngineTech Industries and, as president/owner, continued to supply engines and parts of the VM and then Technodrive products. Dale retired in 2007 at the age of 74 and continued to support the industry as a consultant until the age of 80 years old.

In addition to his entrepreneurial passion, Dale lived his life with a deep curiosity about the world, commitment to his family and friends, and a continued love of flying. He built upon the foundation of faith, honesty, and dignity learned through his small-town upbringing and created a life for himself and his family that was expansive, exploring, and in pursuit of new ideas and experiences. He traveled extensively with his family in North America and Europe, finding new tastes and sensations and forming long-term, loyal friendships in Finland, Holland, Italy, and Mexico. He approached life with a test pilot’s mind–analytical, self-disciplined, and boundary-pushing–but with a crooner’s heart–sentimental, intimate, and with a sense of style.

As a pilot of his own Cessna aircraft, Dale was able to share his love of flying with his wife Terhi, with whom he spent many happy hours island hopping in the Caribbean and exploring the blue skies. He was a proud member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and flying would always remain his greatest love.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Karen Chambliss Leister who passed away in 2014 and his parents.

Dale is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Terhi Anneli Chambliss, and his daughter Anneli Chambliss Howes, resident of Oxford, England. Dale is also survived by his son, David Chambliss, resident of Oakland CA, from a prior marriage to Glenda Merchant. Dale has four surviving grandsons, Robin (9), Jonah (23), Andrew (26), and Lucas (28).

A funeral service for Dale is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 25th of January, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. For those unable to attend the service, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting Mr. Chambliss’ online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon on the “Services” section.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolences with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon.