Charles Dale Pingel

Charles "Dale" Pingel, 89, passed away on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Arlington. Funeral: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fielder Road Baptist Church, 2011 S. Fielder Road, Arlington, with Rev. Jerry Morris officiating. Interment: 2:15 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Lane B. Visitation: The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Dale was born on May 28, 1923, in Aurelia, Iowa, to Charles L. Pingel and Martha Bischel Pingel. He was raised in Vega and graduated from Vega High School. Dale was a graduate of West Texas State University and received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II. Dale married Laverne Herring in Ralls on Aug. 17, 1951. They served at Buckner Baptist Children's Home in Dallas for 15 years. Dale joined UTA in 1970 as superintendent of Grounds Maintenance and Landscape Beautification. He retired from UTA in 1987. In explanation of why he loved his work, he referred to a sign on his desk, "A plant is mute, but how it speaks of God." Survivors: Beloved wife of 60 years, Laverne Pingel of Arlington; daughters, Anita Jeanette Ortega, Martha Gail Pingel, Laura Dale Wilson and husband, James; son, John Charles Pingel and wife, Regina; sisters, Betty Compton of Roswell, N.M., Marcella Ellis of Muleshoe, Patricia Skelpsa of Payson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Hillary, Valerie, Nathan, Kiersten, Abigail, Alyssa and Jonathan.