Dale Dean Slack

Dale D. Slack, 94, of Granville, Ohio, passed away peacefully Friday, July 5, 2026, at his residence after spending Independence Day surrounded by his family. He was born November 5, 1931.

Dale was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary L. Church, in 1977; mother, Dorothy Wheeler Slack; father, William Jackson Slack; sister, Freda (Jim) Conwell; brother, Harold (Anna Marie) Slack; brother, Howard (Gwendolyn) Slack, sister, Wilma (Jerry) White, several brothers and sisters in law, and one infant daughter.

Dale is survived by his four children: Vicki Williams of Charlotte, NC; Lisa (Dan) Nethers of Mansfield, OH; Craig (Tina) Slack of Westerville, OH; and Patricia (Tim) Eaton of London, OH.  Dale is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces, nephews, beloved neighbors, and cherished friends.

Dale was born at home in Belle Plaine, Kansas, during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. Being born into a farm family, Dale learned at an early age the value of hard work and thriftiness. He often told stories of long days working in the fields and around the farm, setting the table with plates down to avoid the dust, and pleasant evenings at home with family listening to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on the radio with a big pan of popcorn for all to share. Dale graduated from Oxford High School in 1949, then served in the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, where he met and married the love of his life, Mary Church. The Army allowed him to follow his artistic passions to Kansas University via the G.I. Bill, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in fine arts in 1958. He and Mary, along with young daughters, Vicki and Lisa, soon returned to Mary’s home state of Ohio where her large family immediately adopted him as an extra member of their “Big Ten” brothers and sisters. Craig and Patricia joined the family as roots were put down first in Hilliard, Ohio, then in Granville where Dale could finally have his hobby farm and he and Mary could enjoy gardening, being a part of the Orbiting Squares Square Dance Club, and hosting countless family gatherings.

Part of Dale’s hard work ethic led him to be employed in a variety of locales and occupations through the years, including being a pin setter at a bowling alley, a draftsman both at Boeing in Kansas and Royer and Rogers here in Ohio, which allowed him to bring home hamburgers from the White Castle restaurant next door for a special treat! Dale was also a free lance landscape architect, then ultimately a technical illustrator at North American Rockwell International until he retired in 1988. Retirement gave him the opportunity to volunteer for the census bureau, a job that he loved because he got to travel and photograph the beautiful highways and byways of Ohio, seeing the many barns that he loved to paint. Dale’s beautiful barn paintings will carry his legacy for years to come. He loved playing euchre at the Senior Center in Newark and any card games with family. Then of course there was always the work in the garden. Dale was known far and wide for his tomatoes, zucchini, sweet corn, and green beans which he enjoyed sharing with his family and neighbors especially.

Dale was also a family man. He relished time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; taking them fishing, horseback riding, playing games with them, and teaching them how to work in the garden. Dale ultimately followed his mother’s example and his own desire to pass peacefully in his sleep after a day spent enjoying time with family. This gentle man with the ever-present smile and positive outlook will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, and there were so many who knew and loved him.

Funeral Services will be held 11AM Monday, July 20, 2026, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home 133 S. Prospect St, Granville, Ohio 43023, where visitation will be held from 4-7 PM Sunday, July 19 and one hour prior to services from 10-11 AM Monday. Burial following at Maple Grove Cemetery Granville.

A Celebration of Dale’s Life and Art will be held at a future date. The family invites all who own pieces of Dale’s art to consider bringing their artwork to display for one final art show. Details to follow.

Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.