Dale Ricky Springer Obituary (2024)

Dale Ricky Springer, born May 4, 1953, passed away in the company of some of his closest family, at his home in Gleed, Washington, on April 13, 2024, after years of health issues and managing stage 4 cancer for over a year. Dale began his adventure of life at the U.S. Naval Hospital, in Great Lakes Illinois, as the second born to Ruth Ann (Penny) and Donald Richard Springer, to share a birthday with his older brother Steve. Dale always found a way to be outside. As a boy, always doing his part on the family farm or helping other families with theirs and doing Boy Scouts. He liked to share stories about growing up tied with some kind of lesson about animals, nature, and survival tips. Moving a fare few times, he finally landed in Prosser, Washington, where he would graduate in 1971. Hed go on to Perry Technical School and become a journeyman Electrician at Hanford Nuclear Facility, receiving many certificates of notoriety of his work, ethic, and contributions to the company throughout his nearly 35 years with them before retiring in 2011. In his healthier years spare time, hed be found in the mountains, camping, hiking, fishing, and taking hundreds of pictures of his adventures. His camping buddies would practically become family, after starting an annual Memorial and Labor Day camp trip that would have as many as 120+ in its hay-day and continues even now roughly 40 years later. Since retiring, hed spend more of his time at home tinkering with little projects and constantly customizing things around the house just the way he wanted them. With his electrical background and science fascination, he was always making something new, that he could use if the world started to end, which he was preparing for and warned us was going to happen at least a few times a year. Through his inventive lens, he saw a use for everything, which meant he sometimes took "one mans trash is another mans treasure" a little extra literal. He also really enjoyed reading, whether it be his sci-fi and fantasy books, or diving into a subject he wanted to understand better. Just about anybody would say Dale was the most kind, caring, selfless, and supportive person any person could know. He put so many people before himself so many times, coming to the rescue at the ring of the phone. His kids will always think of the memories of camping and fishing with dad on the weekends and be forever thankful for his ability to be some kind of superhero, somehow always able to save the day. Hopefully his grandson will always remember his birthday trip and first plane ride with Grampa tail. Dale parties on through and will always be treasured by his beloved daughter, Dalen Springer, grandson, Elysia Chavez, and son, Quentin Springer, his siblings, Steve Springer, Cindy Cross, Susan Stephens, and his hundreds of friendships. He openly expressed his wish that when his time came, all of his friends, everyone he cared for, would come together for the "biggest goodbye party in the hills" that we could muster. So, its only fitting we celebrate Dale, this coming Memorial Day weekend. Celebration details will be public on Facebook. You can also contact his daughter, Dalen, at 509-517-0478. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.