Pat Dale

Patricia Ruth “Pat” Dale, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at Waterside Memory Care at Newbridge Retirement Community, where she had been a resident a short time after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born Patsy Ruth Sturm on April 6, 1937, in Illmo to James and Roberta Sturm.

She attended school in Illmo and graduated from Illmo-Fornfelt High School in 1955.

After graduation, Pat worked as a secretary at Rueseler Chevrolet on Fountain Street in Cape Girardeau. There, she became acquainted with a tall, handsome mechanic named Dillard Dale. After a brief courtship, Dillard and Pat were married June 23, 1956, at the home of Judge Marybelle Mueller. Their marriage produced three daughters and a son, and they remained married for more than 60 years until Dillard’s death April 29, 2017.

Pat’s responsibilities as a mother and homemaker kept her busy, but she did work outside the home briefly at Plaza Gifts and Office Supplies, Lacy’s Gift Shop, Wimpy’s, Kroger and National Supermarket.

Dillard and Pat lived in Cape Girardeau for most of their six decades of married life, with the exception of a few years in the late 1970s when they moved to Marion, Illinois.

On June 11, 1960, Pat was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Never known to be conservative when it came to design, Pat loved all things leopard print — two of her grandchildren called her “Leopard Grandma". She also loved crafting, especially things involving butterflies. According to her, there was nothing that couldn’t be improved by embellishing it with a butterfly or two. If friends or family got mail with a butterfly on the envelope, they knew who it was from without having to read the return address.

Pat was known as a warm, generous and loving woman. Even though she had only been a resident for less than two months before her death, the staff at Waterside Memory Care quickly grew to love her, as do the many friends who mourn her passing. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Waterside and the team at Saint Francis Hospice for their warm, professional and compassionate care of Mom.

Pat is survived by three daughters, Bobbie (Gary) Anspach, Tammy (Charles) Francis and Chrissi (Kelly) Wright, all of Cape Girardeau­; and by a son, Roger (Julie) Dale of Jackson. She is also survived by a brother, Jim Sturm of Scott City; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the funeral home, with Gerald Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Fairmount Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Dale, Drew Bucher, Parker Altenthal, Blake Wright, Ethan Norman and Don Charles.