Dale Cavender

Dale D. Cavender of Fort Collins, CO passed away peacefully on August 29, 2011 at the Medical Center of the Rockies after suffering a fall at home. Dale was born the youngest of four children in Abilene, Kansas on March 27, 1920 to Elmer Edwin Cavender and Hattie Malinda Romberger. Dale married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Pooler on October 10, 1941 in Abilene. During WWII, he served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in the European Theatre where he flew C47's in support of the 101st Airborne and in the breaking of the German siege of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge. His love of flying never left him-he parachuted out of "a perfectly good airplane" to celebrate his 90th birthday. After the war, Dale returned to his employment with the A.L. Duckwall Company of Abilene, KS. He opened and managed retail stores for the company in KS and CO during his career. In the early 50's, Dale and Jeanne moved with their family to Colorado Springs where they lived and worked before retiring and eventually moving to Fort Collins in 1993. Dale was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fly fish on Colorado and Wyoming rivers, hunt on the eastern plains and in the Colorado Rockies and spend time at the family cabin that he and his son built. Some of his many interests & hobbies were photography, drawing, golfing & traveling. He also was a sports fan who loved to follow college football and basketball – the Air Force Academy and Kansas Jayhawks were 2 of his favorite teams. Dale was a true gentleman with a generous and loving spirit who adored his wife and family. He was an honorable man whose strong character and Christian values helped guide his life and family through good times as well as trials. He had a wry wit and was a life-long learner who was engaged in life. He was the family cornerstone. He is now home with our Heavenly Father after living a full and healthy life of 91 years. He will be forever missed and loved by all who knew him. Dale is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Jeanne (Pooler), and daughters Claudia Spear (Howard), Susan Cavender (Charlie Wrobbel) of Fort Collins and son Roger Cavender (Lori) of Colorado Springs. He leaves behind 6 grandchildren, Christiane Spear; Carrie Trupp; Marcus Spear; Amy Cavender; Paul Cavender; and Mackenzie Wrobbel, and their families. A memorial service with military honors will be held at First United Methodist Church, September 6, at 2:00 p.m. The committal service will conclude at the Church's columbarium.