Dale Adkins, 97 of Grinnell died January 26, 2012, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A memorial service has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 31, at the First Friends Church in Grinnell with the Rev. Todd Follette officiating. Organist will be Kathy Vander Ploeg. Burial will be held at a later date at Rock Creek Cemetery in Jasper County. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association. Dale was born August 29, 1914, in Grinnell, the son of Theodore Bonham and Susannah Gill Adkins. He was raised in California and Colorado and later returned to Grinnell as a teenager. He was a graduate of Grinnell High School where he ran track and sang in a men's quartet. While in high school he was employed at the Monroe Hotel. After high school he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and lived in Leon, Iowa. On January 30, 1937, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Luman, in Missouri and the couple made their home in Grinnell. He was employed for several years at Midwest Manufacturing in Kellogg and later Maytag. During World War II he served with the United States Army. After the war, he returned home and was an agent for Prudential Life Insurance and later Fidelity. Later in life he worked in various capacities at the Depot Train Station and for the Grinnell School District. He was a member of the Grinnell American Legion, V.F.W., and the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. Dale held a great love for his family and was very protective of them. Sharing his time with his family was very important to him. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed novels by Louis L'Amour and other American West books. He enjoyed bowling and playing cards and yard darts with family members and friends. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, and attending garage sales and auctions. For 27 years he wintered in Mission, Texas. Survivors include his wife of 75 years, Dorothy of Grinnell; one daughter, Sherry Lee (Burnham) Anderson of Grinnell; nine grandchildren; and many great and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Nancy Ann Davis; one brother, Olin; and three sisters, Elma, Irene and Lela.