Dale A. Mathys, 80

Dale A. Mathys, age 80, of Edgerton, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in his home, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Mr. Mathys was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, entering the service as an enlisted man on October 5, 1954, serving ten years before being chosen to go to officer training school and becoming a Warrant Officer. He became an Ordnance Officer and retired on October 31, 1974, with the rank of Captain. During his military career he served at the end of the Korean Conflict and three tours in Vietnam. After discharge from the military, he settled his family in Edgerton and received his associate degree from Northwest State Community College, Archbold, Ohio, and served as village administrator in Edgerton for twenty-five years until his retirement and would later return to be interim administrator for several years. During his tenure the village saw growth in local industry with a new industrial park and upgrades in the power grid, water and sewage systems and building of the new library and Senior Citizen Center. The new Dale A. Mathys substation at the east end of village was named in his honor. He was a Life member of American Legion John D. Smith Post #10 in Edgerton and Bryan VFW Post #2489 and also a member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Marine Corps Mustangs, Edgerton Rotary Club, Edgerton Development Corporation, Edgerton Area Foundation, and Men’s Investment Club. He was named to the Northwest State Hall of Fame and was also named Edgerton Citizen of the Year. He served on the board of AMP Ohio and received the 7 Hats award from AMP Ohio. Dale was also active in Masonic life and was a member of numerous Masonic organizations, including Edgerton Masonic Lodge #357, where he was Past Master, and Bryan Masonic Lodge #215, where he was also Past Master. He was also a member of and Past High Priest of Northwest Chapter #45, R.A.M.; a member of Past District Grand High Priest of the State of Ohio; a member and Past Illustrious Master of Bryan Council #101, R. & S.M. of Ohio; a member and Past Commander of Bryan Commandery K.T. #74; a holder of the Meritorious Award of Grand Commandery of Ohio; a member of Defiance Commandery; a member of Van Wert Commandery; a member of the Tri-State Drill Teams; a member of the Bryan Temple Board; a member of the Yoeman of York, in Angola, Indiana; a member of Zenobia Shrine, Toledo, Ohio; a member of the Northwest Shrine Club in Williams County and the Hillbilly Club; a member of the Ancient Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo; a member of the Knight York Cross of Honor; a member of the Northwest High Twelve Club #535; a member and Past Excellent Chief of Knight Masons of Ireland; a member and Past High Priest of Appolo Chapter, R.A.M. of Ohio; a member of the Royal Order of Scotland; a member and Past Grand Tall Cedar-Northwest Forest #187; a member of Northwest Allied Masonic Degrees; a member of Order of the Silver Trowell; a member of Order of the High Priesthood; a member of Knight Commander of the Temple; a member and president of AMD; and a member and past President of the National Souljourners, presenting ROTC Scholarship Awards throughout Northwest Ohio for twenty-seven years.

Dale A. Mathys was born on June 20, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Clifford and Mirth C. (Heeg) Mathys. He was raised near Montpelier, Ohio, by his mother and stepfather, Mirth and Edgar Smith. He married his wife of sixty-two years, Shirley Jean Steele, on May 13, 1956, in Edon, Ohio, and she survives.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three daughters, Candy Jean (Kenneth) DeRoche, of Morehead City, North Carolina, Tammy Ann (Dennis) Davis, of Edgerton, and Dalene Anette (Larry Kammeyer) Mathys, of Bryan, Ohio; four grandchildren, Dale E. Davis, Kylee Ann (Nathan) Vasquez, Dustin A, (Jill) DeRoche, and Kenneth G. (Debbie) DeRoche; fifteen great-grandchildren; and one sister, Laura Gardner, of Venice, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather and one great-grandchild, Alyssa Michael DeRoche.

An open house celebrating the life of Dale A. Mathys will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019, from 2:00-4:00 P.M. in the Mathys home at 148 West Indiana Street in Edgerton. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials are requested to the Edgerton Area Foundation or the Vietnam Memorial.