Obituary of Dale Christopher Mayer

Dale Mayer, age 84, passed away of natural causes on March 16, 2023,

at his home in Mountain View Retirement Village in Hospice Care at

Tucson, Arizona. Dale was predeceased by his mother Leota and his

father Edward, and is survived by his wife Ruth and children Julie,

Janelle, and Brad. At 6 months old, Dale was adopted by Edward and Leota

Mayer of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dale was baptized at Concordia Lutheran

Church in Fort Wayne, and attended Concordia Lutheran High School,

where he was a member of the junior ROTC.

 

In the fall of 1956, Dale began attendance at Concordia Teachers College,

in River Forest, Illinois (today known as Concordia University Chicago).

After his junior year, Dale taught 1st and 2nd grades for one year as a

supply teacher teacher in New Orleans, then returned to River Forest for

his senior year studies. During the 1960-61 academic year, Dale met his

future wife Ruth Beltz when she needed a ride home for Christmas break.

Dale graduated from Concordia and was assigned to teach at Christ the King

Elementary School in Michigan and also attended the University of Mich-

igan, where he earned a Master’s Degree in History. But Dale had not

forgotten about Ruth, and soon returned to her in Indiana, where they were

married in 1964 at Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. Dale taught history

at Concordia Lutheran High School and the couple soon welcomed their

first child, daughter Julie, in 1966.

 

Dale and his family moved to the Washington DC area in 1969, when he

joined the National Archives and Records Administration’s archival training

program. While living in the area, Dale and Ruth welcomed their second

child, daughter Janelle in 1970. After completing his archival training, his

family moved to West Branch, Iowa in 1970 where he began working as

an Archivist at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. Dale and Ruth

welcomed their son Brad into the family in 1976, and Dale enjoyed a long

and successful career at the Hoover Library. Dale retired from federal service

in 2001 and moved with Ruth to Tucson, Arizona, where they would savor a

peaceful retirement together in the pleasant warmth of the Sonoran desert.

 

Dale was an avid history buff, and enjoyed reading, writing, traveling, follow-

ing the local sports teams wherever he lived, and spending time with his family. He was

a valued leader and dedicated worshiper at Our Redeemer Lutheran church in Iowa City, 

Iowa, for more than 30 years. At Ascension Lutheran church in Tucson, he continued in 

leadership positions, along with leading many adult Bible studies. Dale’s funeral will be held 

at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 13th, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1220 Magee Road, 

in Tucson, AZ. Memorial gifts may be given to Alzheimer’s Disease Research 

or Ascension Lutheran Church.

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