SICILY ISLAND — Services for Samuel E. Dale Jr., 88, of Sicily Island, who died Tuesday, May 25, 2010, will be at 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Sicily Island with the Rev. James Gass and the Rev. Kenneth Hoots officiating.

Burial will follow at Harrisonburg Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Jonesville.

Mr. Dale was born July 10, 1921, in Harmon, La., the son of Samuel Sr. and Edith Parr Dale. He attended elementary school in Winnsboro, La., and graduated from Monterey High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Louisiana Tech University. After graduation from Louisiana Tech, he entered the U.S. Army Infantry and served in World War II China-Burma-India Theater. When the war ended, he returned to college and completed a teaching certification at Louisiana State University.

Mr. Dale began a long career in education, teaching agriculture at Sicily Island High School for a number of years. He pursued and completed his master’s and doctorate in vocational education at Louisiana State University. He served as a junior high school principal and parish classroom supervisor before his election to the position of superintendent of Catahoula Parish Schools.

Throughout his lifetime, he participated in church and civic activities. He was a charter member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Sicily Island where he taught the senior men’s Sunday school class. He was also a member of the Gideon’s and Lions Club.

Recipient of a number of professional awards, he was most honored by the success of his former students.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Marie Dale; and two sisters, Julia David and Ruth Brooks and husband, Ellis.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Cathleen Dale; one daughter, Cathy Dale of Harrisonburg; two brothers-in-law, Willard Davis Sr. of Acme, La., and Berchman Trichel Jr. of Harrisonburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Walter Myers, Matt Myers, Travis Bowlin, Richard Price, Jimmy Farmer and Henry Roy Farmer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Warden, Barney Bowlin, Willard Posey, LaDell Sandifer and Clarendon Peck Jr.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Sicily Island, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home or the Gideon’s Association.