Dale Newton

Dale Newton had a quiet and complex personality, and was kindhearted. Dale’s most endearing traits were his congeniality and his moral compass. Most times if asked, he would genuinely want to help. And at different times in his life his giving became his short coming. Those close to Dale knew how much they meant to him.

During the war years far from the battlefields, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Gordon Alonzo Newton and his wife, Fern Aline (Shoemaker), were focusing on the impending growth of their family, and on April 27, 1940, the couple welcomed the birth of their son, Dale. Baby Dale was delivered at home (on Blackburn Street) with complications - he was blue from a lack of oxygen. The impact of this would plague Dale with many obstacles to overcome throughout his life but that never stopped him from trying.

Dale was the second of five children in his family and grew up in their farmhouse on 5 Mile Road NE and Frost in Grand Rapids with his sisters, Dolores, April and Arlene, and brother, Gordon. Their parents made sure the kids learned responsibility by pitching in with daily household chores. Dale and his brother took turns milking, Blackey, the cow, but he also had his own pig to care for. It was obvious at a young age that Dale wasn’t a fast learner, but once he learned it he never forgot it. He proved to be a very hard worker when he focused on a task. In his younger years having fun with his siblings came easy they loved playing ball, building forts in the woods and camping together. Dale loved to ride bicycles and he saved every dime he could earn until he had enough to buy a new bike. Dale and his siblings walked over a mile to Plainfield Elementary School, which later became DW Richardson Park. At 14, Dale started working as a cook at DeWitt’s Kitchen and ran everything in the kitchen for 5 years. At the age of nineteen, He was hired as a cook at the Pantlind Hotel.

Dale liked nice cars. He faithfully saved enough money to buy himself a brand new 1955 Mercury to cruise around in.

In 1960, Dale met Bonnie Darby, and they were married in 1961. They had two children Timothy and Sheila. They bought a home on Briggs Boulevard NE in Grand Rapids. To provide for his family, Dale worked at General Motors until his medical condition interfered with his job, then he worked part-time cutting grass at the Blythefield Country Club. Unfortunately, Dale’s marriage to Bonnie ended in divorce. He lived on his own in an apartment for a few years before moving into Foster Care Homes. He tried this for a while but eventually went to live with his mother Fern and stepfather Fred Ten Hoor in 2000. His mom did her best to look out for Dale’s needs and give him a loving home. It wasn’t long before they found an abandon kitten in their back yard which became Dale’s close companion – they named it Whitey. Wherever Dale was, there was Whitey, staying vigil until Dale fell asleep at night.

Although Dale didn’t like the limelight at all, but he did enjoy bowling and was a very good bowler, always winning prize money for high score at the end of season. He had just recently finished up a league with prize money. He enjoyed shopping at Meijer with the family. He also enjoyed going out to eat and there were times when he would set in a restaurant with a cup of coffee and just watch the people go by. On occasion, his parents took him on their travels but Dale was perfectly happy at home doing a puzzle or listening to music. In the last years, Dale’s family were his dearest caretakers, and although he had a hard time expressing his emotions, he couldn’t help but be deeply affected by the loss of 3 of his siblings and more recently, his mother. Dale passed away just a few months after his mother on Monday, May 13, 2013. All who knew and loved Dale will treasure his memory.

Dale Newton, age 73, of Grand Rapids, MI passed away on Monday, May 13, 2013. He was preceded in death by his mother, Fern Ten Hoor; his sisters, Dolores Poldvee and Arlene Everling; and his brother, Gordon Newton. Dale is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, April and James Siegers; his step-father, Fred Ten Hoor; his children, Timothy Newton and Sheila Newton; grandchildren: Brandon, Joey and Cory Brown and great grandchildren; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit with his family on Friday, May 17, from 1-3 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. Interment to follow in Blaine Cemetery. To share a memory and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com