Dale Lee Montgomery, 87, Sweet Home, died suddenly at home on March 6, 2013 of heart failure. He was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Ray Lee and Mary Otis (Parker) Montgomery and grew up in nearby Russellville, the eldest of four siblings.

After graduating from Russellville High School Dale, joined the Navy in 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He attended University of Oklahoma, University of Wisconsin, Long Beach State College, and various trade schools throughout his 35-year aerospace career.

He began his career in 1948 when he was hired by North American Aviation in Long Beach, California as an electrician on the B-45, America’s first jet bomber. He worked his way up to supervising positions until 1957 when he was hired by Douglas Aircraft who was hiring people for the newly established missile test and launch sites at what is now Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. He worked as foreman at Vandenburg until 1965 when he transferred as manufacturing manager on the Thor/Delta and Apollo/Saturn missiles at Cape Canaveral, now Cape Kennedy in Florida. He worked at the Cape through Apollo Eleven when we put a man on the moon. In 1969, he was transferred back to the Huntington Beach to work on the DC-10 aircraft to manage the assembly plant. He retired from aerospace in 1980 and moved his family to their farm in Crawfordsville.

Family was the heart of Dale. He married Mary Nell Allen in 1946 and they had three children in their 10-year marriage. He married Dorothy Dean Emerson Alley and together they raised their blended families for ten years. He married Helen Wages Meyers in 1968 and together they had two children in their 32 years of marriage. He married Bridget Cooper Wittwer in 2001 and they enjoyed 11 years of traveling and family events.

Dale was raised a Baptist and has been a key part of the Methodist Church wherever he has lived. He loved anything that flew, boats, gardening, extensive travel and serving in countless service organizations.

Recently Dale wrote, “I have had a good life and I thank all of those who made it so. I love each member of my family, my friends, my country and my Lord. Thanks again for the ride!! God Bless!!”

Dale is survived by: his wife, Bridget; his five children and their spouses, Annette Montgomery, Santa Cruz, California, Gail Montgomery, Albany, Bruce Montgomery, Forest Grove, Kathryn Lowery, San Diego, California, and Melanie Stovall, Albany. He is also survived by: his stepson, Ray Alley Junior, Monzanillo, Mexico and stepdaughters, Cathy Gibson, Las Vegas, Christy Duncan, Sweet Home, and Cindy Sieg, Sweet Home. He is survived by 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Don Montgomery, Mesa, Arizona and sister, Doloris Roof, Bellingham, Washington.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Mary Ottis and Roy Lee Montgomery, Sweet Home; sister, Dariene Long, Sweet Home; brother, David Montgomery, Long Beach, California; stepchildren, Steve Alley, Moro Bay, California, and Tom Alley, Shell Beach CA.

A Celebration of Life is planned for 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Mardch 6, 2013 at the Sweet Home United Methodist Church, 6th and Long Streets.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that gifts be made to Sweet Home United Methodist Church or Sweet Home Emergency Ministries (SHEM).

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.