Dale W. Martin, 80, of New Bedford died Wednesday September 11, 2002 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. He was the husband of Edna M. (Devlin) Martin,and son of the late Alvin and Helen (Bishop) Martin.
Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he lived in New Bedford most of his life.
Mr. Martin was formerly employed as a union welder for the Boilermakers Union.
Mr. Martin was a third degree member of the Paskamansett Lodge A.F. & A.M. He was member of the Forever Young Club of Bayberry and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Acushnet. During World War II, he served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Force, participating in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Ardennes-Alsace, and in the Air Offensive of Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 silver oak leaf clusters and one bronze oak leak cluster, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service star, the World War II victory medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct medal.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Steven Landry of Pennsylvania; 3 daughters, Linda Hopps of South Dartmouth, Catherine Reed and Denise Johansen, both of North Dartmouth; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.He was the brother of the late Helen Kitzmiller.
His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday September 14, 2002 at 10 AM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne will be private. Visiting hours will be on Friday September 13, 2002 from 5-8 PM. A Masonic Service will be conducted by the Star in the East-Paskamansett Lodge A.F. & A.M. at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Shriner's Children Hospital, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.