Dale Gene Eaton, 67, passed away suddenly but peacefully at home on July 8, 2024, in rural Palco, Kansas.
A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM with visitation starting at 10:00 AM prior to the service at Red Line Church of God 3804 H Road in Palco, KS. Burial will follow at the Green Mound Cemetery, rural Palco, KS.
Dale was born on August 2, 1956, in Hays, KS, to Joe and Mary (Towns) Eaton. He graduated from Palco High School in 1974. During high school, Dale was involved in many activities. He was in the swing choir, played trombone, was on the football team, and participated in theatre productions. He also took Grand Champion Beef Feeder Calf while in 4H.
In 1978, Dale graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene College, Olathe, KS, with a BA in Music Education. It was during his time at MANC that he met Lynette Aune, and they were married on July 8, 1978, in Minot, ND. After their marriage, Dale and Lyn embarked on a journey of teaching music in Larned, KS, and Altamont, KS, before finally settling in Olathe, KS, in 1982. He completed his Master of Music at Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, in 1991.
In his 28 years of teaching music in the Kansas City metro area, Dale taught at Harmon High School in Kansas City, KS, and at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, KS. In addition to teaching during these years, he spent the summers farming out at Palco. He retired from teaching in 2010 but continued to farm up until the present time.
Dale loved music. He was a wonderful tenor and a highly respected choral conductor. He sang the tenor solo in Handel’s Messiah many times. Over his career, he sang with multiple church choirs, including the choir at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe where he was a member.
Dale's love for his family was unwavering. He was an avid hunter and cherished spending summers at the farm. His passion for family heritage was evident in his attendance at as many family reunions as possible. One of his fondest memories was singing in the family quartet ‘The Eatones’ with his nephew, brother, and father.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Eaton, Palco, KS; brother, Donald Eaton, Olathe, KS; Aunt Shirley (Towns) Burr, Elba, AL; sister-in-law, Mavis (Leigh) Kallestad, Wayzata, MN; sister-in-law, Sharon Eaton, Nashville, TN, and many beloved cousins; Nieces and nephews Britney (Scott) Rice, Olathe, KS; Caleb (Sarah) Eaton, Leadville, CO; Joshua (Tiffany) Eaton, Arlington, TX; Darci (Eric) Kimmerling, Henderson, TN; Matthew (Deborah) Eaton, Holt, MI and many cousins-in-law, great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Lyn (Aune) Eaton, his father, Joseph Eaton, his brother Dan Eaton, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.