Dale Burton Chesney

Dale Burton Chesney, 82, passed away at his home Wednesday evening, April 23, 2008, following a lingering illness.

Born in Fort Scott, he was the son of William James and May Lynch Chesney. He attended school in Fort Scott; and after completing one year at Fort Scott Junior College, enlisted as a cadet in the Naval Air Corps in 1943 in which he served two and a half years during World War II. In 1946 he entered the University of Kansas to study chemical engineering and graduated in the top five percent of the Engineering class in June 1949. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi and A.I.C.H.E. honor societies. While at the university he met Billie Marie Bullard, and they were married in November 1948. When Dale was hired by Tennessee Eastman Company, they moved to Kingsport in September 1949.

Dale had been an active member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church since 1950. He was a member of Greer Memorial Sunday School Class. He gave many hours volunteering with Broad Street's Carpenter's Helpers furniture ministry, restoring donated furniture with his master craftsman's touch. He also volunteered with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Kingsport Literacy Council, and Holston Habitat for Humanity.

When he discovered an interest in tracing his Irish heritage, Dale searched archives and court house records from North Carolina to Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1985 he visited the land of his father's birth in County Antrim, near Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he met many relatives.

Dale retired from Tennessee Eastman Company as a senior chemical engineer in 1986 after 36 years in the C.E. Division.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, William James, Jr.; a sister, Norinne Chesney Ring Mueller; and a nephew, Kenneth Ring.

Surviving are his wife, Billie, married 59 years; his daughter, Janet Chesney Tate (Richard) of Knoxville; two sons, Gary Dale Chesney (Sharon) of Morristown, and James Frank Chesney (Sarah) of Nashville. Also left to miss him are nine grandchildren: Kasey Leigh Chesney, Andrew Lamar Chesney, Susanne Elizabeth Chesney Pritchett (Craig), Brandon Spencer, and Matthew Spencer, Erin Elizabeth Tate Keck (Daniel) and Matthew Chesney Tate; Claire Coode Chesney and Joseph Burton Chesney. Dale is also survived by one great-grandson, Braylon Louis Pritchett; and a nephew, Raymond Ring (Susan) of Valdosta, Georgia.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport.

A graveside service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Dale's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m., Monday at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Reverends Jack Edwards and Jack P. Weikel presiding. The family will also receive friends following the memorial service at the church.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to friends and neighbors, the church staff -- especially Joy Eastridge, the parish nurse, and Greer Memorial Class for their support these past months. We also want to give special thanks to the wonderful, caring nurses and volunteers of Wellmont Hospice--most especially Kristina Somers, Lora Johnson, and Melissa Scheurer.

Those who wish may make memorial donations to Wellmont Hospice, 280 Steeles Road, Bristol, TN 37620 or First Broad Street Carpenter's Helpers Furniture Ministry, First Broad Street United Methodist Church, Box 1346, Kingsport, TN 37662.

Please visit hamlettdobson.com

Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, is serving the family of Dale Chesney.