Dale Otis Hink

The year is 1917, USA had entered WWI, the Russian Revolution started, and Dale Otis Hink was born on August 20. Can you imagine watching World War 1 soldiers parading down the streets of your childhood town? Or listening to Babe Ruth jack another home run aired on live radio? How about seeing a talking movie? What an interesting beginning for Dale Hink in Wilbur Washington. Moving to Cashmere with his family in 1926, Dale attended high school where he played football, basketball and was a diver on the city swim team. He also became a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 (Later his sons also became scouts from the same troop.) Experiencing the Great Depression as a young man had its challenges, jobs and money were scarce. One of his favorite stories was "Riding the Rails" with a friend to Minnesota where he worked in a restaurant for room and board. The Great Depression defined the type of man he is and was to be. During WWII, Dale worked on various defense construction jobs around the western United States. In 1943 he was drafted, and after basics, he was shipped out of San Francisco to the South Pacific/Philippines. He liked to say he was like Radar on the TV series Mash, doing supply related jobs. He was transferred to the Air Force where he was an air traffic controller for the remaining time in the service. Returning to Cashmere Dale became reacquainted with Dot French, his lovely bride of over 65 years. Settling into family life in Cashmere Dale made memories with his sons: Bob, Larry, Jim, and Tim. Summers at Lake Wenatchee's cabin fishing was a family ritual, hiking too. After a long day of pounding nails Dale would take his sons 8 miles up a mountain to camp at Culchuck Lake. Picture four boys ages 7 - 15 carrying make shift backpacks up a steep mountain many times arriving after dark! Provisions of peanut butter and jelly until, hopefully, in the morning fish would be caught. Dale carting a full pack and a gallon of gas for the raft and motor (stored from previous trips). A lifelong union construction man, Dale's ingenuity and work ethic, made him a craftsman of the trade and a favored worker. He built the forms on most of the damns in the valley and when work was limited, followed the work to Hanford and New Mexico. Retired over 30 years, Dale never grew bored. When he wasn't maintaining 2 acres of property, he was using his "MacGyver" skills to fix something. He spent weeks at a time helping his adult children on construction projects. Dale was interested and interesting. He would spend hours devouring nonfiction books: history, geography, geology, war, building, you name it--he could talk it. He was champion at Croquet every Father's day--he'd show us whose boss. His funny quips like, "I hear footprints" as we walked into the room, never failed to humor us. An avid sports fan, Dale would follow local, college, and professional games, on radio and television, usually at the same time! No family member will forget the image of Dale sitting in his recliner, watching the Seahawks on his 42" flat screen with his binoculars! He will be sorely missed by his wife "Dot"; children, Larry (Cindy), Jim, Tim (Tauni); sister Wanda Stallings (Stan); grandchildren, Shawn (Kathy) and Heidi Taylor, Jazz, Addy, Quynn, Cade. He was preceded in death by two sons: Tom & Bob Memorial Service for friends and family will be Monday March 31, 2014, 1pm at the Cashmere Cemetery with a continued Celebration of Life following at Tim & Tauni Hink's. Memorial donations are encouraged to be made to Boy Scouts Troup #1, Cashmere. You are invited to view his online guest book at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, Cashmere.

Dale Otis Hink

August 20, 1917 - March 23, 2014