Dale D. Grimsley

Dale D. Grimsley, 89, of Americus, KS died July 6, 2021, at Holiday Resort in Emporia. He was born December 7, 1931, to John William Grimsley and Anna Marie (Christensen) Grimsley in the family farmhouse near Americus.  Left to celebrate his life include his wife B. Belle (Gates) Grimsley of the home; daughter Lendi L. (Grimsley) Bland (Paul), of Americus, KS; grandson Joel Grimsley Bland of Overland Park, KS; and grandson Samuel Bartholomew Bland of Americus, KS, and a number of nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Winifred Gatewood, Leslie Grimsley, Glenn Grimsley, Ross Grimsley, Mildred Daharsh, and Jack Grimsley.

He attended grades one through eight at Wheeler District #42, a country school, and then graduated from Americus High School in 1949. Following high school, he enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University, and attended one year before going to work at Cessna Aircraft in Wichita. During that time, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in the Korean Conflict as a combat medic in the Thirty Second Regiment Infantry Division, earning two bronze stars for his actions.  On July 6, 1953, while tending to the injured during the battle on Pork Chop Hill he was wounded and later received a Purple Heart. He also earned the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Combat Medical Badge, and the Good Conduct Medal.  He was discharged from the Army on January 13, 1954, at the rank of sergeant.

Following his military service, he re-enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College and earned a bachelor’s and eventually two master’s degrees.  He had a twenty-two-year career in education, teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels, coaching basketball, baseball, and track, and serving as principal at schools in western and eastern Kansas.  He later became an engineer at Dolly Madison Bakery, and as a gifted mechanic, he fabricated production machinery. He also built houses and worked at GSI in Americus.

Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 13 at the Americus Cemetery. The family requests that Emporia State University gear or black and gold be worn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emporia State Athletics, in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett, 605 State Street, Emporia, KS 66801.