Mrs. Badger, the eldest of four daughters of Douglas Charles Allen and Nancy Beatrice (Sandling) Allen, was born on Red Gum Plantation near Yazoo City, Mississippi. Dale grew up in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. During her four years of high school, she served as a church pianist in a small Missionary Baptist Church, played center on her high school basketball team, was the Editor of the school newspaper, and played flute in the Belzoni High School band in Humphrey’s County, Mississippi. She attended Mississippi College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education on an accelerated schedule. In 1958 at the age of 20 she began her career as the teacher of the first Exceptional Education class at Merritt Island Elementary in Brevard County, Florida.
In 1960, Dale married Don, her husband of 62 years, and began a life journey of adventure and travel. After teaching various grade levels in Virginia, Maryland, and the West Indies, she and Don returned to Brevard County to pursue advanced degrees. While earning her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida, she served as Librarian at Surfside Elementary in Satellite Beach, Florida, and Curriculum Coordinator for the Brevard County Exceptional Education Department. In 1968, Dale was appointed principal of Mims Elementary School in Mims, Florida, and in 1970 she was recognized in the Outstanding Young Women of America Awards Program for her contributions to civic organizations in the Titusville, Florida community.
Don and Dale lived in New York State from 1971 to 1981 where Dale was employed by the Mamaroneck/Larchmont School District as Director of Exceptional Education. In 1981, she joined Don in Saudi Arabia for three years where she served as the Program Development and Evaluation Analyst in an English as a Second Language program for the Arabian American Oil Company in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Mrs. Badger completed her professional career at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, as an administrator in the Division of Continuing Education. In 1999 she retired with 41 years of service in the field of education.
After retirement, Dale was affiliated with many groups and organizations in Brevard County, Florida. Dale and Don continued to travel extensively, and the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise around the world.
Dale enjoyed her family heritage and traditions, and she was known as the “family historian” among her many relatives. She loved locating original documents and compiling historical books for her extended family. Don and Dale spent hundreds of hours visiting archives, courthouses, libraries, cemeteries, and battlefields.
Survivors include her husband Donald Badger of Rockledge; sisters Opal Wolff and Marie (Gilbert) Culbreth of Okeechobee, Florida, and Nancy Lowe of Sebring, Florida; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
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