Dale Stanley Smith, 97, Warsaw,  and formerly of Argos, died at 6:56 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Season’s Home Care, Warsaw, where he had been in declining health.

On Oct. 30, 1921, in Elkhart, he was born to Ivory Smith and Flossie (Deisch) Smith.

He and his wife moved to the farm on Ironwood Road in 1950, having lived in Florida for a short time after the war. On June 29, 1944, in Argos, he married Mary Rue Golden; she preceded him on Jan. 6, 2001.

Dale retired from Midwest Spring in Mentone in 1985.

Dale was a graduate of Argos High School class of 1939. He competed in track and field while in high school, winning state honors in pole vault. He attended Purdue University for a while then World War II broke out and he answered his call and joined the United States Army Air Corp.

First Lieutenant Dale Smith was assigned to the 91st Bomb Group, 322nd Squadron, 3rd Air Force. He was a B-17 pilot, flying 23 successful missions over Germany. On Oct. 2, 1945, he received his honorable discharge.

Dale is survived by his daughters, Shannan Biery and husband Michael, Frisco, Texas; and Judy Hall and husband Lowell, Argos.; five grandchildren, Erica, Alexander and Nicholas Biery and Justine and Statia Hall; two great-grandchildren, Ronny and Vincent; and wife,  Joy Hall.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; brother, George Arthur Smith; and sister, Mary Carmean.

Arrangements are pending at this time at Earl-Grossman Funeral Home.