Dale Hanks passed away peacefully in his home on March 26 at the age of 98, with family at his side. He was born on February 24, 1928, in Glendale, California, and led a full life marked by curiosity, ingenuity, and devotion to family, faith, and community. A proud patriarch, he leaves behind a large and growing family—and a 60-foot radio tower.

Raised during the Great Depression in Southern California, Dale learned the value of hard work early on. He attended Los Angeles High School, where he excelled in science, and later studied engineering at UCLA, graduating with honors.

An active member of his church, Dale served a mission in Switzerland beginning in 1949, an experience that shaped his faith and sparked a lifelong love of travel. Following his return, a pretty young woman named Jeanne asked him to a Valentine’s dance on Sadie Hawkins Day. They married eight months later, in October 1952.

After a few quiet years together, they started a family—slowly at first, then quickly filling the 1960s and their newly built home in Rancho Palos Verdes with the love and chaos that comes with eight children born in a thirteen-year span, with one more arriving in the mid-1970s. Together, they built a life centered on family, creating a home filled with mayhem, laughter, tears, and shared experiences.

Professionally, Dale began his career as a structural engineer at North American Aviation, contributing to advanced aircraft design, including early rocket-powered projects. He later became one of the early employees at Computer Sciences Corporation, where he helped pioneer work in computing during its formative years. His career took him around the world, solving complex technical challenges and supporting major international projects. He concluded his career at Teradata before retiring in 1995.

He passed along his love of travel and adventure throughout his life, often bringing family along to longer-term assignments abroad and always making time for summer backpacking trips—one for the boys and another for the girls. In retirement, he continued to travel widely, spending time with family in Utah, Arizona, Northern California, and Hawaii, and traveling abroad to Russia, the Balkan states, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, and beyond. He renewed his passport at 96, certain he had at least one more overseas trip in him.

Amateur radio was a defining passion in Dale’s later years. After re-licensing in 1986, he devoted countless hours to the field, supporting Rose Parade communications, serving as President of the Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club, and helping maintain regional repeater networks across Southern California.

He loved sharing his knowledge. He guided some of his children and grandchildren in earning their amateur radio licenses, spent fifteen years after retirement teaching computer science at Harbor College, and volunteered at the Los Angeles FamilySearch Library, troubleshooting computer issues. He also delighted in introducing younger children to science, showing them how to make slime and discover the joy of messy, hands-on fun.

Active until just a few months ago, he continued designing and creating. Inspiring both awe and more than a little concern in his children and grandchildren, he built a new greenhouse after the first one blew down in the winter storm that preceded his 95th birthday party. Not long after, deciding the backyard needed another structure, he built a pergola.

He is remembered for his sharp mind, steadfast determination, adventurous spirit, and dedication to his family, church, and community. Dale’s life reflected a deep appreciation for learning, innovation, and service to others.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, his infant daughter, Nancy, and his sister, Amelia. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Donald (Mehyang), Kenneth (Sally), Ernest, Anita (Ed), Heidi (Don), Carmen (Curtis), Laura (Mark), and David (Amy); twenty-five grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; his sister, Pauline, and his brother, Eugene.