Eugene J. "Bud" Dale

Eugene J. “Bud” Dale, June 1928 – April 2022

Bud Dale died peacefully in late April at The Kenney in West Seattle, where he lived with his wife, Mary, for their last several years. He worked as a civil engineer in his professional life, and enjoyed photography, world travel, skiing and camping, and doing volunteer work, most recently for Salvation Army.

He grew up in West Seattle, along with his older sister, in a house his father built on 41st Ave. S.W. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1946, and took one year of engineering courses at the University of Washington, where he also rowed on the crew team, before enlisting in the U.S. Army once he turned 18. The battles of World War II were done, and he served with forces occupying Japan. Later, during the Korean War, he enlisted in the Army National Guard.

A month after being discharged from the Army in 1948, Bud married Mary Kinzel, also of West Seattle. They had met and dated while in high school, and they’d enjoyed ski trips to Snoqualmie Pass when they could pool enough credits for gasoline.

The couple had four children, and Bud taught them all to ski. He had enjoyed the Boy Scouts while growing up; his troop focused on hiking and scaling peaks in Western Washington. He and Mary instilled a love for the outdoors in their children, with Bud serving as a Scoutmaster, and Mary as a Girl Scout Leader. Bud also liked camping, and many a summer featured long car rides to various camping sites, where he’d be up early in the morning cooking pancakes for everyone, rain or shine.

Bud’s career changes posted the family to Tacoma; New Canaan, Conn.; and Portland, Ore., before returning to West Seattle. His and Mary’s first trip to Europe was for his work with Lone Star Industries. In 1969 they visited France and England, and finished in Copenhagen, to see the foreign-exchange student who had lived with the family earlier. After that, the two became enthusiastic travelers, returning to Europe many times and also visiting Russia, Mexico, and Asia. In later years, they took part in Elderhostel and Untour programs.

In the homes they owned over the years, Bud usually took to remodeling. But in 1987, they moved to a condominium at Providence Point, Issaquah. There, Bud served in several positions on the residents’ governing Umbrella Board, including as president in 1992.

Another of Bud’s lifelong interests was photography. He enjoyed film and darkroom work, and transitioned to working on digital images in Photoshop. He kept up with technological changes and liked corresponding with email. Bud made notecards displaying his photos, or Mary’s watercolors, on the front, and these were quite popular with family and friends.

Mary preceded Bud in death in 2021; he is survived by their children: Jack (Valerie) Dale, New Market, Md.; Carolyn Dale (Tim Pilgrim), Bellingham; Brian (Cynthia) Dale, Everett; and Jan Koutsky (Jamie), Seattle; and by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and by nieces and nephews.

Remembrances may be made to the Salvation Army.

To share your condolences and fond memories of Bud with his Family and Friends, please visit his Tribute Wall, located above.

- Care & Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Services -

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