Howard "Dale" Pond

Dale was born in Beeville, Texas on February 5, 1953. A survivor of childhood polio, Dale never let his disability affect his youthful spirit and spent his early years riding horses and tending animals with his grandfather on his family’s ranch outside of Beeville. Dale graduated class of 1971 from A.C. Jones High School where he excelled as a drummer in the marching band. After graduation Dale attended Bee County College where he served as the President of the Student Government Association from 1974-1975.

While attending Bee County College Dale met his beautiful wife Ann Dunham whose family had recently moved to Beeville when her father Rev. John Dunham took over the pastorship at St. Philips Episcopal Church. Dale and Ann were married at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. The couple had one daughter, Allicen, and became Mimi and Papa to Ethan and Isabelle until Ann passed away in 2004.

After working in the oil fields in Nacogdoches as a welders assistant, Dale started his career in the restaurant industry at Schlotzsky’s Deli in Dobie Mall in 1976. He continued his career serving in management for Micardo Inc. for 14 years before purchasing his own Schlotzsky’s franchise in 1994.

In between his career and life as a husband, father, and later Papa, Dale loved anything outdoors, including gardening, hunting and most of all fishing. Dale was also an avid reader, with his favorite genres being Texas history and historical fiction, having read every Louis L'Amour book and would always share knowledge about Texas history whenever possible.

Dale was a lover of music, always having rhythm and Rock N Roll in his spirit and heart, with his favorite artists being Willie Nelson, The Beatles, and The Kinks.

He was a proud Papa to his granddaughter Isabelle, grandson Ethan and granddaughter-in-law Megan, always with a story to tell from his years across Texas with friends and family.

Dale had an infectious and unforgettable laugh, unmistakable way of talking and could have a conversation with anyone. He will be deeply missed by his family and is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Allicen and Paul Cano, his grandchildren Ethan and Megan Montemayor and Isabelle Cano, siblings Mary Shafie, Fay Mcbroom, Jean Tomlinson, Mike Pond and Kathy Pond.