Dale Snively, 89, of Olney, died  Friday, March 25, 2011, at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind.  Burial in Crest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery in rural Claremont.

Mr. Snively was born January 30, 1922, in Richland County, the son of Rufus J. and Mabel (Steward) Snively. He married Alvera Kessler on October 25, 1943, in Olney. She survives.

He was a local business owner, a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in rural Richland County, a member of Gideons International, Olney American Legion Post, Olney Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. He graduated from flight training school in Valdosta, Ga., and flew 38 B-24 bombing missions over Germany and the Ploiesti oil fields of Romania, which saw some of the hottest action in the Eastern European Theatre of Operations during the great war. He retired from the Air Force active reserves as a Lt. Colonel in 1982. He was also past President of the Independent Sewing Machine Dealers of America. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, church friends, Gideon brothers and everyone who knew him.

Mr. Snively is survived by his wife of 67 years, Alvera; one son, Darrel Snively, of Olney; one daughter, Gayle Snively, of Olney; two granddaughters, Romi L. Burks and her husband, Clint, of Georgetown, Texas, and Chanda Hill and her husband, Dave, of Bryant, Ark.; and two great-granddaughters, Kaylee and Bailey Hill.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus J. and Mabel Snively.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)