Dale Dean Lucas

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(Jan. 15, 1931 - Feb. 27, 2015)

Dale Dean Lucas, 84, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned, Kan.

He was born Jan. 15, 1931, in Macksville, Kan., to Howard and Dorothy Shute Lucas.

He attended Macksville schools, participating in basketball, football, American Legion baseball, and was a member of the track team for the Kansas Relays in Lawrence. 

He also participated in band and was the Senior Class President. Dale married Grayce Bock, Macksville and raised two sons, Daryl and Myron.  Dale was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary and the First Presbyterian Church. He also served on the Board of Directors for the First State Bank. 

His hobbies included playing golf, hunting and antique cars. Dale loved traveling with his family to Cancun, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Disney Land & Disney World, Yellowstone Park and Alaska.

He started college at Kansas State University and then entered the United States Air Force, serving four years.  Dale transferred to Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree. His education continued at Emporia State, receiving his Master of Education and then a Doctorate of Education from the University of Wyoming.  Post doctorate education was taken at Vanderbilt University.  While attending college Dale belonged to Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Dale started as a classroom teacher in the Wichita Public Schools. His administrative duties began when he became a junior high principal in Cody, Wyoming. He then was appointed to the Wyoming State Department of Education to serve as Assistant Superintendent in charge of data collection and all federal programs. Dale was offered the position as aide to the State Superintendent and later was designated as the Deputy State Superintendent. During Dale’s term as deputy, he was selected as the chairman of the committee for the State Superintendents to write, compile, and review the National Educational Polices. Dale also worked closely with the Wyoming Legislature and the Wyoming State School Board. During this time Dale was able to take a group of Wyoming educators to India on a United States grant to help India modernized their teaching and curriculums. During this trip, they were also able to visit Hong Kong, Greece, and many other countries around the world.

Dale’s next administrative duty was at Ogallala, Nebraska as a high school principal before returning to Wyoming, to become the Superintendent of Powell, Wyoming, schools. Dale moved to Larned, Kansas in July of 1987 to become Superintendent of USD 495 school district.

Dale suffered a stroke in March of 1992 and worked hard at trying to overcome the serious difficulties he experienced.

Survivors include his wife Grayce, Larned; two sons, Daryl and wife Sandy Macksville and Myron and wife Cindy, Garden Plain, five grandchildren, Christopher, Mackenzie, Emily, Nickolas and Sebastian; two  great grandchildren Kenli and Kaybri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Kent and Troy Lucas.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, Larned, Kan., with Pastor P.J. Southam presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Inurnment will be in the Farmington Cemetery, Macksville, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church, Larned, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left for the family at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

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