James “Jim” Fielding Dale, Jr., 82, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at a local health care facility. Jim was born on May 2, 1942, to James Fielding Dale, Sr., and Margaret (Wyeth) Dale. He moved with his parents to St. Joseph from Maryville, MO, in 1947. After attending Western Reserve Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, Jim graduated from Central High School in 1961, later earning a B.A. degree from Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, in 1966. Jim’s first job out of college was at the former Wyeth Company, his grandfather John Wyeth’s wholesale hardware business. Later Jim was employed at the former Dugdale Packing Company of St. Joseph, a supplier of premium beef for many years. Jim at first hauled beef sides on the kill floor, but gradually worked up to the position of assistant purchasing agent.
His employment was interrupted by the Vietnam War. Jim volunteered in the U.S. Marine Corps, first training at Camp Pendleton, CA. Jim served in Third Company, Third Battalion, Third Marines but later contracted nearly-fatal malaria during his 14-month tour of combat duty. He received the Presidential Unit Citation, The National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and The Rifle Marksman Badge. He was honorably discharged in 1971 with the rank of sergeant.
Jim continued to work at Dugdale’s until the plant closed in the mid-1970’s. Afterwards, he found a supervisory position at Carnation Pet Food in St. Joseph for two years. Later, he purchased Charles Chips, a distributorship of quality snack food that made Jim (aka “Charlie Chips”) a household and office word all over town for eight years. After selling the Charles Chips distributorship, Jim went to work at his final, favorite job with Hall Title and Abstract (later First American Title and Abstract) owned by his high school friend Steve Crawford.
Throughout his life Jim enjoyed athletics. He played varsity football at Central High School, then later in life ran in several city triathlons. He also competed in “Biking Across America” rides across four states: Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, on some treks accompanied by his friend from childhood, Beverly Pitts.
He married Roxanne Decker on August 15, 1970, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She survives of the home.
He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brothers Thomas Lee Dale, John Wyeth Dale, and a first cousin, Natalie Bradley Ray.
Survivors include his sisters Leila Dale Hicks and Shirley Dale Lawrence, nephews James Dale Lawrence of Kansas City, MO, Phillip Lawrence of Woodbury, MN, Scott Lawrence of Tokyo, Japan, Thomas Dale of Naples, Florida, Alicia Dale Halpin of Glen Carbon, IL, and Elliot Hicks, of St. Joseph. Additional survivors include numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Celebration of Life and Public Livestream 10:00 A.M. Monday, at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
