Dillard Dale

Dillard Odell Dale of Cape Girardeau, a well-known and respected businessman and friend of many in Cape Girardeau area, passed away at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017, at SoutheastHEALTH after an illness of several weeks.

He was born May 25, 1937, to W.L. and Parlie Dale of the Advance, Missouri, area. He graduated from College High School in Cape Girardeau in 1955.

Dillard got his start in the automotive business as a mechanic at Rueseler Chevrolet in Cape Girardeau. It was at Rueseler that he met and fell in love with Pat Sturm of the Illmo (Scott City) area, who was a secretary at the dealership. The couple was married June 23, 1956, and in 2016, they celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Dale worked as a mechanic at B.F. Goodrich in Cape Girardeau before becoming manager of Cape Town Car Wash, the first automated car wash in Cape Girardeau. In 1976, he became the first employee of Trim Line of Cape, a startup automotive-accessories business founded by Richard Smith, eventually becoming general manager of the company.

Dale purchased Trim Line from Smith in 1987, the same year the company changed its name to Auto Trim Design. With Dale as owner, Auto Trim Design grew to nearly 50 employees and four stores. The Cape Girardeau store, which started as a home-based business under Richard Smith, outgrew two other locations before Dale purchased the old Coad Chevrolet building on South Kingshighway in 1995 -- the same building that formerly housed Rueseler Chevrolet, bringing his business career full-circle.

Dale also served on the board of directors of Auto Trim Design Co-Op, a purchasing cooperative for franchisees of Auto Trim Design nationwide. In 2005, Dale sold Auto Trim Design to his son, Roger Dale, but continued to be involved in the operation of the business on a part-time basis until the illness that claimed his life forced him to stop.

Dale was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses Nov. 29, 1968. In addition to his secular work with Trim Line/Auto Trim Design, he was actively involved as a volunteer in Bible educational work and in helping with construction and maintenance of Kingdom Halls in the Cape Girardeau area.

In addition to his wife of the home, survivors include a sister, Elizabeth Smith of Jackson; a brother, Gene Dale of Oak Ridge; four children, Bobbie (Gary) Anspach of Cape Girardeau, Tammy (Charlie) Francis of Cape Girardeau, Roger (Julie) Dale of Cape Girardeau and Chrissi (Kelly) Wright of Jackson; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Elder Earl Norman officiating. Burial will follow at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Pallbearers for the service will be Blake Wright, Jordan Dale, Craig Smith, Gerald Cox, Brian Palmer and Brock Milam.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.